Indonesia gets backing as G-77 chair

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia looks set to become the next chair of the 132 member G-77 as the only other candidate, Iran, may step aside to support Indonesia's nomination.

Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said in New York on Monday evening that support was growing for Indonesia to replace Tanzania.

"We have always been active in the Group of 77," Alatas said after meeting his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi at the United Nations headquarters.

The position of chair is rotated annually and next year must go to country in the Asian region.

The three countries initially tipped as candidates were Indonesia, Iran and Bangladesh.

Indonesia's permanent representative to the UN, Makarim Wibisono, said Indonesia was ready to chair the G-77.

"For that reason we are trying to get Iran to withdraw its nomination, while Bangladesh has already said it is backing down," Makarim was quoted by Antara as saying.

The G-77 groups developing countries and has an economic focus.

Antara from New York quoted Alatas as saying Iran had agreed to withdraw its nomination if Asian countries promised to choose Iran as the next Asian chair in three years.

He added that many were keen to see Indonesia chair the grouping because it had often proven its commitment, along with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to fight for the interests of developing states.

Alatas is in New York to attend the 52nd meeting of the UN General Assembly.

On Monday he met separately with Mexican Foreign Minister Angel Gurria and Brazilian Foreign Minister Luiz F. Lampreia.

Alatas said Brazil had been able to stop Fretilin from joining the Community of Portuguese speaking countries' organization.

Fretilin is the separatist organization which opposes Indonesia's 1976 integration of East Timor, which was Portuguese colony for several hundred years.

Fretilin was given the status of "invited observer" rather than full observer. (mds)