Date:13/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/13/stories/2004121303971300.htm

International

Jakarta too seeks U.N. Council seat

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, DEC. 12. Indonesia has expressed its intention to strive for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), according to its Ambassador to Singapore, M.S. Hidayat. He was responding to a question from The Hindu at the Foreign Correspondents Association meeting here. Jakarta's bid acquires importance in the light of the recommendations by a U.N. panel on expansion. "One particular country, Australia," had actually recognised Indonesia's credentials as "it has the biggest Muslim population in the world ... and is a moderate Muslim" state, Mr. Hidayat said. Australia, Indonesia's southern neighbour, is a close ally of the United States. The Group of Four (G-4) countries, mutually-supportive aspirants for permanent membership, does not include Indonesia. The G-4 consists of Japan, India, Germany and Brazil.

Mr. Hidayat said: "Once the discussion on the reform of the Security Council is concluded, which, I believe, is still a long way to go, then, we will look into the support from friendly countries." Jakarta would approach the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as "a regional bloc" and the Organisation of Islamic Conference, which "has always been very supportive of Indonesia."