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