Indonesia in the UNSC

Next year Indonesia will take its seat on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member for 1995-1996.

Naturally Indonesia's nomination is an honor. However, some people question whether Indonesia will be able to do much on this forum. The impression has been that there isn't much non- permanent members in the UN Security Council can do because the five permanent members (the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China) hold the right of veto.

Nevertheless, according to our former Foreign Minister Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, Indonesia's non-permanent membership will give it a chance to fight for the interests of the Third World as far as economic and political matters are concerned. In his view the UN has, in past years, shown to favor the interests of the big powers. Indonesia's entry into the Security Council could open an opportunity for the Third World to express its views.

At the same time, Indonesia's nomination obviously places a heavy moral burden on its shoulders which, for a number of reasons, it must try to bear as well as is in its power. In September 1992 the tenth Summit of Non-Aligned Nations in Jakarta elected Indonesia chairman of the movement and stipulated that it must try to achieve a restructuring and democratization in the UN in order that this world body may truly benefit all of its members. This is a task that is easier said than done.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta