Elation, skepticism greets RI's election to UN Council<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): News of Indonesia's election as a non-permanent
\nmember of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was met with
\nelation at the foreign ministry yesterday despite skepticism by
\nsome on it's true impact on the Western dominated Council.<\/p>\n
\"On the basis of a telephone interview with our permanent
\nrepresentative (at the UN) I can tell you that we have been
\nelected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security
\nCouncil,\" Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas told journalists
\nyesterday morning.<\/p>\n
Alatas said that Indonesia wished to thank the Asia group for
\nits endorsement along with other countries outside the continent
\nwhich lent support.<\/p>\n
For many, news of the election came as no surprise since
\nIndonesia has for the past year undertaken an aggressive, albeit
\nlow-key, approach to garner a non-permanent seat.<\/p>\n
The UNSC is made of five permanent members -- Britain, the
\nUnited States, China, France and Russia -- who have exclusive
\nveto powers, and 10 non-permanent members.<\/p>\n
The non-permanent seats are selected by the UN General
\nAssembly to serve two-year terms of which each year five become
\neligible for new membership. Indonesia replaces Pakistan as the
\nsecond representative from the Asia region.<\/p>\n
Based on a 1963 amendment, the General Assembly agreed that
\nthe 10 non-permanent seats on the UNSC would be divided
\ngeographically.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is wholeheartedly determined to contribute
\nconstructively and concretely to the programs and agenda of the
\nCouncil,\" Alatas said.<\/p>\n
However, at a separate event held earlier, a senior political
\nscientist, J. Soedjati Djiwandono, from the Centre for Strategic
\nand International Studies (CSIS) tore down whatever grandiose
\nnotions exist of Indonesia's role at the UNSC.<\/p>\n
\"Absolutely none!\" barbed Soedjati when asked by The Jakarta
\nPost about Indonesia's potential influence on the Council.<\/p>\n
He justified his skepticism by saying that the so-called \"New
\nWorld Order\" and the Security Council are mere tools of the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
\"Membership has a lot of prestige, we can be heard there even
\nthough we have no power there,\" he allowed.<\/p>\n
According to Soedjati, who is also a member of the UN
\nSecretary General's Advisory Council, evidence of this lies in
\nthe fact that in the post-Cold War period, Russia has not used
\nits veto power.<\/p>\n
\"It's not being used because Russia does not dare to,\" he
\nremarked, underlining Russia's desperate need for U.S. financial
\ninvestment and assistance as the chief reason.<\/p>\n
Dr. Hero Kuntjoro-Jakti, head of international relations
\nstudies at the University of Indonesia, told the Post that
\nIndonesia as a member of the UNSC could represent the concerns of
\nthe developing nations.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's role could be very profound in issues of
\ndevelopment, including poverty and pollution,\" Hero said.<\/p>\n
Soedjati also noted that Indonesia could play a role in
\nvoicing the concerns of the developing countries, but would not
\ntake for granted that membership in the UNSC meant it could
\nautomatically do so.<\/p>\n
\"Whether or not it can be done depends more on our diplomatic
\nsavvy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Forecasting the prospect of Indonesia's tenure which begins on
\nJan. 1, 1995, Alatas said that it carries many new
\nresponsibilities and duties.<\/p>\n
\"We are contemplating expanding our staff there (in New York)
\nto beef up our permanent representative office,\" he said.<\/p>\n
When queried whether this \"victory\" signaled a prelude to
\nIndonesia's desire to become a permanent representative, a
\nbeaming Alatas chuckled, \"that's another matter.\"(Dini S.
\nDjalal\/mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/elation-skepticism-greets-ris-election-to-un-council-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}