RI undecided on UN Security Council reform proposals

Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The Indonesian government is sitting on its decision on the proposed reform of the United Nations Security Council, saying that it does not want to get involved in a "head-long rush" to support any of the two models proposed by a UN panel.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Marty Natalegawa, however, hinted on Friday that Indonesia was still interested in getting a permanent seat on the Security Council, citing Indonesia's relative independence from the influence of any global power.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan released a 63-page report in March on the most wide-ranging changes within the UN since its creation in 1945. Among the proposed changes, Annan recommended the reform of the UN Security Council in two optional models.

Model A provides for six new permanent seats -- besides the current five -- with no veto power, and three new two-year non- permanent seats, divided among the major regions of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

Model B provides for no new permanent seats but creates a new category of eight four-year renewable seats and one new two-year non-permanent (and non-renewable) seat, divided among Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

Any change has to be approved by a two-thirds vote in the 191- member General Assembly, with no veto rights for the permanent members: the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.

Meanwhile, the so-named Group of Four -- Brazil, Germany, India and Japan -- who are bidding for a permanent seat on the Council under model A, reportedly circulated a draft resolution last month that called for the Council's expansion from 15 to 25 members, with six new entrants having veto rights and four alternating members.

The draft was issued only a day after the U.S. had reportedly signaled it would not support the G4 nations' quest for a permanent seat on the Council unless they give up their demand for veto rights.

Indonesia does not recognize the G4's draft resolution.

"On the reform of the United Nations Security Council, we are aware that there are two options presented by the UN secretary- general. We have yet to confirm which of the two options are our final preference," Marty said on Friday.

"We feel it is difficult to support the current effort to have model A adopted in the form of a resolution at the UN General Assembly. Not only in terms of substance, but there is the potential that it can underscore the inequity of the UN Security Council. Also, the process to reach the decision may in fact create more division than unity among UN members," he added.

He did not mention Indonesia's support for any particular country, but said that Indonesia would abide by the following principles: Any new permanent members must be able to represent developing nations; to instill a sense of common ownership; and to prevent unfairness.

"Indonesia has not abandoned its bid for a permanent seat. We have to think what difference Indonesia, or other countries aspiring for the seat, can make. A permanent member must be able to contribute more.

"Now we have to ask whether the countries like Germany and Japan have any particular qualities to contribute that are different from the dominant perspectives in the UN. In Indonesia's diplomacy, we are confident that we can make a difference. But whether other countries share our views or not it remains to be seen," Marty said.