Japan eligible for UNSC: Susilo

Japan eligible for UNSC: Susilo

Japan is an eligible candidate for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday.

But he declined to comment on whether his country would lend Japan its formal support for the candidacy.

"Of course, for me, Japan is eligible for permanent membership on the UN Security Council, because Japan has contributed to funding the UN, Japan plays an important role in the region and the world," Susilo said.

"But we are still formulating our formal stance and recommendations, but that is my position right now," Susilo said during a news conference in Tokyo before ending his four-day official visit to Japan on Friday.

Other countries including Brazil, Germany and India are also bidding for a permanent seat on the Security Council, where they hope to join France, China, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Before arriving in Japan on Tuesday, Susilo visited the United States and Vietnam.

In Tokyo, he met with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday, when they agreed to start talks on a bilateral free trade agreement by July.

Susilo also urged more investment in Indonesia by Japanese firms, saying his country had improved its investment environment.

"I do believe that we are doing all that is necessary to make the Indonesian economy irresistible to foreign investors.

"We will continue to improve our investment climate through regulatory reforms, human resources development and the building of infrastructure and other measures," he said.

The Indonesian President said his country's economy had been steadily recovering from the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, on the strength of an ongoing reform drive. Indonesia recorded 7.7 percent growth last year. --DPA