RI pushes new category for UNSC membership

RI pushes new category for UNSC membership

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is pushing for a new category in the
United Nations Security Council to redress what they see as the
overriding power of the five permanent members.

Indonesia's chief representative to the United Nations Nugroho
Wisnumurti said on Tuesday the council should try to appoint new
permanent members without vetoing rights enjoyed by the permanent
five.

"This is our position and we're fighting to push this
through," Nugroho told reporters. This was just after he briefed
President Soeharto on the current endeavor to restructure the
world body, including its security council.

Indonesia will be insisting that these new permanent members
be selected on the basis of a number of criteria such as
geography and population size, he said.

The main thing however is that developing countries should be
better represented, he added.

The United States, one of the five permanent members, has
endorsed a proposal to include Japan and Germany as new permanent
members without vetoing rights.

"This would be unfair," Nugroho said. "They should be balanced
by the presence of developing countries."

There is still a controversy at the UN about the proposal for
a new category. Obviously, this would have to be resolved before
the members could start even discussing the criteria for the new
members, he added.

The move to restructure the 184-member UN followed immediately
after the end of the Cold War. Many have criticized that the five
permanent members, particularly the United States, have too much
power in dictating world affairs.

The other four permanent members are Russia, China, France and
Britain. In addition, there are 10 non-permanent members which
are rotated every two years.

Indonesia has put in its candidacy for a seat representing
Asia which will become available in 1995, but the decision will
have to wait until the next UN General Assembly in October.

Sole candidate

Nugroho said that, so far, Indonesia is so far the only
candidate for the seat despite the fact that officials have been
lobbying for support from Asian countries

"Based on our consultations with other UN members, our
prospects look quite good," he said. "If there are no candidates
by the time the issue is decided in October or November, then
Indonesia's nomination is assured."

"I think other countries would agree that it is fair for
Indonesia to take a seat at the Security Council given the role
this country has played in various fields, from peace efforts to
regional and international affairs. We also shouldn't forget
Indonesia's involvement in the UN peacekeeping missions," he
said.

Nugroho also kept President Soeharto abreast of the
negotiations with Portugal to settle the East Timor issue in the
United Nations.

He said that various developments in the past year have
created a more conducive atmosphere before the next round of
talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries on May 6
in Geneva. This includes the current visit of 24 East Timorese,
now Portuguese citizens, who left the region after the Dili
incident.

During the meeting the President stressed the need for greater
coordination in handling East Timor, which would include
ambassadors, governments and the various agencies in East Timor.
(emb)