SBY joins world leaders's network to reform UN

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has agreed to join the so- called "Leader's Network in Support of UN Reform" initiated by Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson to push for effective action to reform the United Nations.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said on Thursday that the President's response reveals Indonesia's commitment to support efforts to reform the international body.

"The President has accepted the invitation of the prime minister of Sweden Goran Persson to join the network," Dino told the press at the presidential office in Jakarta.

The network is expected to consist of 14 heads of state and heads of government from around the globe.

Aside from Susilo, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, and his Thai counterpart, Thaksin Shinawatra, have also agreed to join the network.

Dino said that all members of the network are expected to meet later this year.

"Members of the Leaders' Network would cooperate with their counterparts over the next year. In their respective capacities, they would make use of the meetings -- be it in the context of bilateral, regional or multilateral relations -- to get the highest commitment from member states for UN reform," he said.

Persson set up the network in a bid to secure commitment from United Nations-member states for the realization of the UN reform agenda, which has been stipulated in the 2005 World Summit Document adopted by world leaders. Sweden held the presidency of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly.

Dino explained that the network would discuss a range of issues, including the implementation of the development agenda -- such as the Monterey Consensus and ECOSOC reform -- the development of the Peace-building Commission and Human Rights Council, the improvement of efforts to eradicate international terrorism, as well as reform of the United Nations Security Council.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has supported the establishment of the Leaders' Network.

He hopes the network would be able to help translate the commitments made at the World Summit into effective action.