Indonesia asserts the need for UNSC enlargement<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas at the
\nUnited Nations asserted that the enlargement of the Security
\nCouncil's membership must be based on geographic, political and
\ndemographic factors.<\/p>\n
\"While the principle of geographic representation is
\nimportant, it should not be the only criterion to determine
\neligibility for new permanent members,\" he said in his address
\nbefore the 49th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, along with a host of other nations, has argued for
\nexpanding not just the permanent membership but also the UN
\nSecurity Council (UNSC) as a whole.<\/p>\n
\"Other objective criteria are equally important such as
\npolitical, economic and demographic realities and a country's
\ncapability and record of contributing to the promotion of peace,
\nsecurity and economic development,\" he said as quoted by AFP.<\/p>\n
Alatas, who was once Indonesia's permanent representative to
\nthe UN, also expressed concern about possible delays in the
\nexecution of the latest round of the General Agreement on Tariffs
\nand Trade (GATT).<\/p>\n
\"We must confess to being concerned with the possibility of a
\ntardy and long drawn-out process of implementing the Final Act of
\nthe Uruguay Round,\" he said alluding to reports on the diffident
\nattitude the U.S., European Union (EU) and Japan have in
\nratifying the GATT.<\/p>\n
He continued by eschewing the inclusion of so-called \"social
\nclauses\" into the new Agreement, regarding such views as
\nprotectionism \"in a thin disguise.\"<\/p>\n
Alatas said a lag in GATT's implementation and the insertion
\nof social clauses would have a dire impact and negate much of the
\nagreement's original intent.<\/p>\n
In Luxembourg, European Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan
\nforecasted on Tuesday that both the EU and the U.S. would ratify
\nthe GATT Uruguay Round trade accord this year.<\/p>\n
Brittan said he had also spoken with U.S. Trade Representative
\nMickey Kantor, hinting that it was clear that the United States
\nwould do the same.<\/p>\n
UNSC<\/p>\n
Elaborating further on the expansion of the UNSC, Alatas was
\ndiplomatic in his approach to the issue of the exclusive
\ninclusion of Japan and Germany as permanent members.<\/p>\n
The UNSC is made of 15 members of which five -- Britain,
\nUnited States, China, Russia and France -- hold permanent status
\nand veto powers. The remaining membership is selected for two-
\nyear terms by the General Assembly.<\/p>\n
The demise of the former Soviet Union and the end of the Cold
\nWar has brought on fervent talk concerning the expansion of the
\nUNSC to better represent the various interests of developing
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
The permanent members themselves have shown interest in adding
\nJapan and Germany to this select group, but without the luxury of
\nveto power.<\/p>\n
\"We support the expansion of the United Nations Security
\nCouncil's permanent membership as long as it is done in a package
\nwhich includes representatives from the developing countries,\"
\nAlatas was quoted as saying by Antara.<\/p>\n
Despite Alatas' diplomatic answer, Indonesia as chairman of
\nthe 111-nation Non Aligned Movement (NAM) has strongly campaigned
\nagainst the exclusivity of developed countries in the UNSC.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year Indonesia's deputy representative to the UN,
\nWitjaksana Soegarda, was quite vocal concerning Japan and
\nGermany's membership.<\/p>\n
At the time Soegarda said NAM was particularly concerned by
\nthe tendency for a few states to dominate the UNSC. \"The
\ninstitution could become an institution for the imposition of the
\nwill of the strong upon the weak,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Apart from Japan and Germany, Brazil and India have also made
\nstrong arguments for their inclusion as permanent members.<\/p>\n
Indonesia itself seems to be a prime candidate to fill one of
\nthe non-permanent seats to be vacated by Djibouti, Brazil, Spain
\nand Pakistan at the end of the year.<\/p>\n
Such is Indonesia's confidence at securing a seat in the Oct.
\n20 election that Alatas did not mention the candidacy at all in
\nhis speech.<\/p>\n
He said that the matter did not need to be brought up since
\nbeing the sole Asian candidate, the countries in the region have
\nalready shown their support.<\/p>\n
Besides, as chair of NAM, Indonesia has a strong caucus upon
\nwhich it can rely.<\/p>\n
Last week Alatas signed an economic, science and technical
\ncooperation agreement with the Nicaraguan foreign minister
\nErnesto Sanchez.<\/p>\n
The agreement was based on the close relations existing
\nbetween the two countries and the realization of the mutual
\nbenefits of such cooperation schemes.(mds)<\/p>",
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