Indonesia ready to join UNSC, envoy states<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is gearing itself up to face the task
\nof dealing with a host of formidable international issues when it
\nassumes a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security
\nCouncil (UNSC) next year.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's permanent representative to the UN, Nugroho
\nWisnumurti, yesterday suggested that the country's tenure in the
\nSecurity Council will not be an easy one due to the outstanding
\ninternational problems still plaguing the world.<\/p>\n
\"We will enter the UNSC in a situation laden with challenges,\"
\nNugroho told reporters after meeting with President Soeharto at
\nMerdeka Palace yesterday.<\/p>\n
Nugroho identified the Bosnian war as one of the most urgent
\nquestions to be addressed.<\/p>\n
Soeharto himself was quoted as stressing the role of Indonesia
\nin contributing to international peace and security.<\/p>\n
Following yesterday's meeting, there were signals that the
\nPresident would attend a one-day summit meeting of Security
\nCouncil member heads of state on Jan. 31, 1995.<\/p>\n
Along with Botswana, Germany, Italy and Honduras, Indonesia on
\nJan. 1 will begin a two-year term as a non-permanent member of
\nthe Security Council. This will mark Indonesia's second tenure at
\nthe UNSC after previously serving in 1974.<\/p>\n
Nugroho surmised that the strength and weakness of the
\nSecurity Council in solving these issues would depend on the
\nposture of the member states themselves.<\/p>\n
\"As long as there is no unity, especially among the permanent
\nmembers, it will be difficult for the Security Council to take
\nconcrete steps in resolving various international crises,\" he
\nargued.<\/p>\n
The Security Council is made-up of 15 members, five of whom --
\nBritain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- have
\npermanent status and hold veto powers.<\/p>\n
Apart from working closely with the permanent members,
\nIndonesia will forge ties with other Council members who are also
\npart of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).<\/p>\n
Indonesia currently chairs the 111-nation Movement and along
\nwith Botswana, Nigeria, Oman and Rwanda will make the \"NAM
\nCaucus\" in the Security Council.<\/p>\n
In light of the tremendous tasks ahead, Indonesia has also
\ntaken steps in beefing-up its staff at the UN Permanent
\nRepresentative office in New York and has created a special task
\nforce for this new responsibility.<\/p>\n
Just weeks ago the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' director of
\nmultilateral economic cooperation, Makarim Wibisono, was posted
\nto New York as Nugroho's deputy to tackle UNSC related matters.<\/p>\n
\"The UNSC is like the cockpit of the UN plane and we have now
\nbeen given the opportunity to participate in important decision
\nmaking concerning international peace and security,\" Nugroho
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
East Timor<\/p>\n
When queried about the East Timor problem, Nugroho noted that
\nit was less and less becoming a preoccupation for the UN and the
\nworld in general.<\/p>\n
Despite the occurrence of minor demonstrations and the
\ninsistence of certain parties to badger the issue in the
\ninternational forums, Nugroho was confident that it in no way
\nundermined the credibility and achievement of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"It does not alter the fact that in the world it is no longer
\na primary issue,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He further suggested that United Nations Secretary General
\nBoutros Boutros-Ghali was attempting to settle the issue outside
\nof the UN General Assembly through meetings between Jakarta and
\nLisbon.<\/p>\n
Under the aegis of Boutros-Ghali, Portuguese and Indonesian
\nforeign ministers have met to discuss the East Timor problem. The
\nnext meeting is due to take place in Geneva on Jan. 9.<\/p>\n
\"The Secretary General is laboring so that the international
\ncommunity does not feel the need to discuss the issue at the
\nGeneral Assembly,\" he remarked while adding that the General
\nAssembly had other important things to discuss. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-ready-to-join-unsc-envoy-states-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}