RI's chances of getting UNSC seat remote: Alatas<\/p>\n
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia -- the world's largest majority-Muslim country -- is
\nnot only one of the few moderate Muslim countries but also one of
\nthe biggest democracies in the world. However, its chances of
\nwinning a permanent seat on a reformed United Nations Security
\nCouncil look remote, the country's former chief diplomat says.<\/p>\n
Ali Alatas, a former minister of foreign affairs, said that
\nthe models proposed by the high-level UN panel determining who
\nshould be the new permanent members did not benefit Indonesia
\nmuch.<\/p>\n
\"Seeing the proposed models, Indonesia would ideally get a
\nseat through 'Model A' but we must also be realistic. There are
\nalso Japan and India looking for the two seats. So it will
\ndifficult (for Indonesia),\" he told reporters after a seminar in
\nJakarta on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He is referring to the two options -- Model A and Model B --
\nproposed by the high-level panel to the UN secretary-general to
\nhelp the planned enlargement of the Council's membership.<\/p>\n
Both Model A and B contain formulae for distributing permanent
\nseats among four major regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and
\nAmericas. Each region will get 6 new permanent seats with no veto
\nbeing created<\/p>\n
Model A, for example, provides that Asia Pacific's 56 UN
\nmembers would get two new permanent seats in addition to China
\nand three two-year seats.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Model B provides for no new permanent seats but
\ncreates 2 four-year renewable seats and three two-year non-
\nrenewable seats for the Asia Pacific region.<\/p>\n
\"If the UN member countries approve Model B, Indonesia will
\nalso face difficulties winning a renewable seat. We cannot set
\naside India with its one billion population,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The report,A more secured world: Our shared responsibility,
\nwas drafted by a 16-member panel led by former Thai prime
\nminister Anand Panyarachun and submitted to UN Secretary-General
\nKofi Annan on Dec. 2, 2004.<\/p>\n
World leaders will decide whether or not to accept the panel
\nreport during a special summit in September at United Nations
\nHeadquarters in New York.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has joined the race along Japan, India, Germany,
\nBrazil and South Africa to earn a place on the Security Council.<\/p>\n
Alatas said that Indonesia's efforts to seek a seat on behalf
\nof the moderate Muslim world would also face challenges from many
\nparties.<\/p>\n
He said that Indonesia had actively helped to resolve regional
\nconflicts including those in Cambodia and the southern
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
\"These were our good achievements, but we also have had
\nnegative aspects like East Timor and the Asian Crisis,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, who opened the
\none-day seminar, earlier told the 59th UN General Assembly in New
\nYork that moderate Islam must be given a voice on the council,
\nadding that Indonesia, as a democratic Muslim state, could be
\nthat voice.<\/p>\n
The seminar was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n
Presently, the Council comprises five permanent members --
\nChina, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
Ten other nations are elected as non-permanent members for a
\ntwo-year term. Non-permanent members have no veto power.<\/p>",
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