RI stakes claim to permanent seat at UNS Council
RI stakes claim to permanent seat at UNS Council
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia declared on Wednesday that it meets
the criteria to be considered for a permanent seat on an expanded
United Nations Security Council.
"If it gets to a point where we have to choose the developing
countries to be selected, then we believe that Indonesia should
be considered as a permanent member of the Security Council,"
said Foreign Minister Ali Alatas.
During a hearing at the House of Representatives late
Wednesday evening, Alatas argued that Indonesia met the necessary
criteria to earn a permanent seat, which include the ability to
contribute to peacemaking, peacekeeping and the maintenance of
international stability.
UN members are now engaged in discussions to expand both the
permanent and non-permanent memberships of the Security Council.
The Security Council has five-permanent members with exclusive
veto rights -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United
States -- and 10 non-permanent members who are elected to serve
two-year terms.
Indonesia, for the second time, is currently a non-permanent
member of Council.
Developing countries argue that the Security Council's
permanent membership is unbalanced and that it lacks their
representation.
Though Indonesia remains in the forefront of such a cause,
Alatas argued that in determining a new permanent member the
criteria must not be divided along geographic lines alone.
He maintained that factors such as a country's economic
potential, population size and record in promoting peace and
stability must be taken into consideration.
Alatas noted several potential regional candidates, such as
India for Asia, Nigeria or Egypt for Africa and Brazil, Mexico or
Argentina for Latin America. He added that Indonesia would be
overlooked if regional representation were the sole criterion.
"If need be, why not two (countries) from Asia? It's not
necessarily that the first candidate from Africa and Latin
America is better than the second country from Asia," Alatas
contended.
Though Alatas' statement was not a formal announcement of
Indonesia's candidacy, this is the first time Jakarta has voiced
its interest in the position.
"We know our place, we are not like other countries who say
that we should be selected as a permanent member. That's not our
style," Alatas said.
East Timor
Touching on the issue of the impending all-inclusive intra-
East Timor dialog, Alatas told the House's Commission I on
foreign affairs and defense that Jakarta was somewhat
disappointed with the UN's failure to consult Indonesia on the
preparations.
During a Jan. 9 meeting in Geneva between the UN Secretary
General and the Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers, it
was agreed that the UN would facilitate a reconciliation dialog
between both pro and anti-integration East Timorese.
Without prior consultation, the UN drew up an invitation list
for the dialog, which includes Fretilin separatist leader Ramos
Horta.
After recently meeting with Secretary-General Boutros Boutros
Ghali in Copenhagen, however, Alatas received assurances that
Jakarta would be consulted for future preparations.
When asked by legislators on Washington's apparent move to re-
establish the International Military Education and Training
(IMET) program, Alatas described that the United States' decision
in 1992 to cancel the program as "a most unproductive thing."
The U.S. canceled the IMET program for Indonesian officers
following the 1991 Dili incident when 60 people were killed in
clashes between security personnel and demonstrators.
During a recent visit here, the Vice Chairman of the U.S.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. William Owens expressed Washington's
desire to reestablish the two-million dollar program.
According to Alatas the decision to cancel IMET was a mistake
and only served as an unnecessary irritation point.
He stressed that Jakarta would not go out asking for the
resumption of IMET. If the U.S. decides to resume the program, he
said, that would be Washington's prerogative.(mds)