Jakarta backs India's case for U.N. Security Council seat

By Amit Baruah

JAKARTA, JAN. 10. Signalling a new warmth in bilateral relationship, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Alwi Shihab, today said Jakarta supported India's entry into a reformed United Nations Security Council as a permanent member.

Mr. Shihab's statement came on a day the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, arrived here on the second-leg of his Southeast Asian tour and called for a ``meaningful alliance'' with Indonesia. The Prime Minister also held first-stage discussions with the Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid. The Foreign Minister's formulation means India's quest for a seat on the Security Council has received a major boost since Indonesia itself was earlier seen as a candidate for the so-called Asian seat.

Mr. Shihab had no hesitation in telling Indian reporters that Indonesia supported India's entry into the Security Council in response to a direct and pointed question. Given that Indonesia is a major Asian nation of 200 million, Jakarta's new position is a major step forward for India.

Other than Japan, Mr. Shihab said, Indonesia would support India's entry into the Security Council from Asia.

Earlier, departing from protocol, Mr. Wahid received the Prime Minister at the airport where a guard of honour was presented. The Prime Minister later called on the President and the Vice- President, Ms. Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Speaking to the reporters, Mr. Shihab also said India could count on Indonesia's support for making possible an ASEAN- India summit, a proposal that New Delhi has been pushing for some time now.

On Kashmir, he candidly said it was a delicate issue but supported the recent informal talks. It is evident that after Mr. Wahid took over as President, the relationship between the two countries is poised for a great leap forward. This change in the bilateral environment is a departure from the Suharto era where the relationship seemed to have stagnated. Several agreements are to be signed tomorrow, including one establishing a Joint Commission.

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