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anana Gusmao, Timor Leste’s special envoy for the negotiation of unresolved borders with Indonesia, has made assurances that no conflicts of interest would hamper the two countries in settling their disputes.

During his visit to the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister on Tuesday, Gusmao rebuffed concerns that his ties with political rival Mari Alkatiri, who controls the Oecusse enclave, part of which is currently under negotiation, would interfere with talks between Indonesia and Timor Leste. The area is a remote coastal district of Timor Leste that directly borders East Nusa Tenggara.

“There’s no conflict of interest [...] the president and his party have given their trust to me as the negotiator,” Gusmao told reporters following a meeting with Indonesian chief security minister Wiranto and Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Wiranto made assurances that the two countries would continue efforts to settle the remaining border points, including the Noel Besi-Citrana and Bijael Sunan-Oben segments. “Both countries want to immediately settle [the border disputes] as in accordance with international law,” he said.

Indonesia and Timor Leste have been negotiating their common border since 2002, soon after the latter formalized its independence from Indonesia in 1999.