Gambia backs Indonesia's bid to secure UNSC seat
Gambia backs Indonesia's bid to secure UNSC seat
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Republic of Gambia has expressed support for Indonesia's bid
for a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council
for 2007-2008.
Gambian President Yahya AJJ Jammeh said after a meeting with
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Merdeka Palace on
Monday that he would ask other African countries to follow suit.
"Gambia will not only support Indonesia, but is also willing
to lobby and convince other African countries to support
Indonesia's bid," Indonesian presidential spokesman Dino Patti
Djalal told a media conference.
Quoting Jammeh, Dino said Gambia was 100 percent behind
Indonesia due to the close psychological relations between the
two countries, particularly because Indonesia consistently
supported the smallest country in Africa.
"Indonesia views the early support from Gambia as a
good sign," Dino said.
Indonesia has expressed its intention to contend for one of 10
nonpermanent seats on the UNSC for the 2007-2008 term as well as
a permanent seat in the wake of mounting demand for reform within
the council.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said Indonesia had
a good chance of securing permanent UNSC membership because it is
a democratic country with the largest number of moderate Muslims
and because Indonesia had actively participated in various UN
peace-keeping missions.
Indonesia's chances of getting a permanent UNSC seat will
depend on the ongoing debate on UN reform.
At a media conference after the bilateral meeting, Susilo
thanked Gambia for its support.
He said Indonesia would continue to maintain bilateral and
multilateral relations with Gambia.
The Gambian delegation and the government of Indonesia also
signed memorandums of understanding on agricultural cooperation
and the joint commission on bilateral cooperation.
President Jammeh and his entourage are scheduled to visit
Sulawesi during their three-day stay. The Gambian president is
also slated to meet Indonesia entrepreneurs in a forum to be
hosted by Gambian Special Counsel General Harvey Goldstein.