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.