(5 Jul 2001)
1. Xanana Gusmao, East Timorese leader, and baby arriving at the signing ceremony
2. Various Australian and UN officials arrive and shake hands with Gusmao
3. Mari Alkatiri, East Timor Interim Economics Minister, in conversation
4. Signing of the treaty commences
5. Close up of Mari Alkatiri signing documents
6. Wide shot of the signing ceremony (from left-right: Senator Nick Minchin, Australian Industry Minister, Downer, Alkatiri, TBC)
7. Woman from the crowd interjecting and protesting against the signing of the treaty
8. UPSOUND (English) Protestor:
"Now right now you signed, you just signed with the minister of economy who is not elected by (East) Timorese people. So you have to have consultation about this. This an agreement, this is a letter. This is what we are going to send to Kofi Annan to know about what's been going on here. Timorese here have suffered so much. We have already suffered for more than 25 years, okay ? Don't sell anymore of our country. Yesterday we talked to you, as the minister of the Timor sea, Peter Galbraith (East Timor's political affairs minister), the explanation..you didn't give us a good explanation in parliament. So we need new clarification before you can sign this Timor Sea agreement today."
9. Alexander Downer and Mari Alkatiri exchange documents and shake hands
10. Cutaway clapping hands
11. Dignitaries toasting the signing with champagne
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Downer, Australian Foreign Minister:
"Well this is a deal that we think will suit both sides appropriately. Obviously it's been in negotiation. We've had different positions that we've worked to resolve, that's taken a bit of time and we've resolved it. It's a very good deal for East Timor. It's a good deal for Australia. It's a win-win for both. Therefore East Timor, this should give them, on current estimates, around 7.4 (b) billion dollars (Australian) worth of revenue over the next 20 years. And for a small country that is an enormous amount of money. So, it will be a very good deal for East Timor."
13. Member of Council (protestor at presser) walk past camera
14. Set up shot of National Council press conference
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Avelilo Coelho, East Timor National Council Member:
"It is important for the government to consult with the National Councils, to inform the National Councils whatever has been discussed with the Australian government, not keep silent."
16. Cutaway of press conference
17. Downer gets into car
STORYLINE:
Australia and East Timor signed an historic agreement Thursday which will allow joint resource exploration in the Timor Sea.
Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, and his East Timorese Interim Economics Minister, Mari Alkatiri, signed the document in East Timor's capital Dili, describing it as a first step towards opening a new political and business relationship.
Mr Downer described the deal as a "win-win" result for both sides.
But not everyone was happy with the agreement.
East Timor National Council Member, Aelilo Coelho, said that the treaty should not have been signed until after the general elections, the first in East Timor's history, due to be held in August.
The signing ceremony was also interrupted by a woman saying that the agreement had been concluded too quickly and without proper consultation with the Council, saying they will take the matter to Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General.
Under the terms of the treaty, East Timor will receive 90 per cent of the royalties from the venture, Australia 10 per cent.
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