Indonesia ready to join UNSC, envoy states
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is gearing itself up to face the task of dealing with a host of formidable international issues when it assumes a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) next year.
Indonesia's permanent representative to the UN, Nugroho Wisnumurti, yesterday suggested that the country's tenure in the Security Council will not be an easy one due to the outstanding international problems still plaguing the world.
"We will enter the UNSC in a situation laden with challenges," Nugroho told reporters after meeting with President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace yesterday.
Nugroho identified the Bosnian war as one of the most urgent questions to be addressed.
Soeharto himself was quoted as stressing the role of Indonesia in contributing to international peace and security.
Following yesterday's meeting, there were signals that the President would attend a one-day summit meeting of Security Council member heads of state on Jan. 31, 1995.
Along with Botswana, Germany, Italy and Honduras, Indonesia on Jan. 1 will begin a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. This will mark Indonesia's second tenure at the UNSC after previously serving in 1974.
Nugroho surmised that the strength and weakness of the Security Council in solving these issues would depend on the posture of the member states themselves.
"As long as there is no unity, especially among the permanent members, it will be difficult for the Security Council to take concrete steps in resolving various international crises," he argued.
The Security Council is made-up of 15 members, five of whom -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- have permanent status and hold veto powers.
Apart from working closely with the permanent members, Indonesia will forge ties with other Council members who are also part of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Indonesia currently chairs the 111-nation Movement and along with Botswana, Nigeria, Oman and Rwanda will make the "NAM Caucus" in the Security Council.
In light of the tremendous tasks ahead, Indonesia has also taken steps in beefing-up its staff at the UN Permanent Representative office in New York and has created a special task force for this new responsibility.
Just weeks ago the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' director of multilateral economic cooperation, Makarim Wibisono, was posted to New York as Nugroho's deputy to tackle UNSC related matters.
"The UNSC is like the cockpit of the UN plane and we have now been given the opportunity to participate in important decision making concerning international peace and security," Nugroho said.
East Timor
When queried about the East Timor problem, Nugroho noted that it was less and less becoming a preoccupation for the UN and the world in general.
Despite the occurrence of minor demonstrations and the insistence of certain parties to badger the issue in the international forums, Nugroho was confident that it in no way undermined the credibility and achievement of Indonesia.
"It does not alter the fact that in the world it is no longer a primary issue," he said.
He further suggested that United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was attempting to settle the issue outside of the UN General Assembly through meetings between Jakarta and Lisbon.
Under the aegis of Boutros-Ghali, Portuguese and Indonesian foreign ministers have met to discuss the East Timor problem. The next meeting is due to take place in Geneva on Jan. 9.
"The Secretary General is laboring so that the international community does not feel the need to discuss the issue at the General Assembly," he remarked while adding that the General Assembly had other important things to discuss. (mds)