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)