Indonesia Seeks UNSC Non-Permanent Membership to Maintain Stability

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia will strive to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2019 to 2020 period to maintain regional and world stability, a foreign ministry spokesman stated here on Wednesday.

"We will continue to strive to get support from friendly countries for a membership in the UNSC. We can contribute significantly to maintain global stability," stated the spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir.

He noted that Indonesia has so far contributed to maintaining security and stability in the region, and so, it now keen to contribute to realizing security and stability at the global level by being a non-permanent member of the UNSC.

"So far, we have contributed a lot to maintain security and stability at the regional level, and this time it will be our opportunity to speak louder to make the world more stable, secure, and conducive for global development," he remarked.

He pointed out that during bilateral meetings with leaders from friendly countries, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has also sought their support to the countrys candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UNSC.

"In the bilateral meetings, Indonesia has asked for support, and it has received positive response from several countries," he affirmed.

Nasir noted that Indonesia is one of the countries to have encouraged reform at the UN by calling for increasing the non-permanent and permanent membership of the UN.

"So that in the future, the UNSC will become more effective and efficient and will not only work in the interests of a group of countries but also of all members," he stated.

Zimbabwe has earlier expressed its support to Indonesias candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the period of 2019-2020.

Apart from Zimbabwe, support has also come from Sweden. Indonesia and Sweden have agreed to support each other for the UNSC non-permanent membership.

Indonesias Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has also held a meeting with her Swedish counterpart, Margot Wallstrom to discuss the issue. "Indonesia and Sweden agreed to support each other for the non-permanent membership in the UNSC," Minister Retno noted.

She remarked that Indonesia will support Sweden for the UNSC non-permanent membership for the period of 2017-2018, while Sweden in turn will support Indonesia for the period of 2019 to 2020. (WDY)