Indonesia Campaigning for Non-Permanent UNSC Seat

Jakarta, 22 Dzulhijjah 1437/24 September 2016 (MINA) – After having been again elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Indonesia is resuming its campaign for the non-permanent UNSC seat for 2019-2020 period.

Indonesia was first elected for the period 1974-1975, for the second time in 1995-1996 and for a third time in 2007-2008, when the country received 158 votes out of the 192 member states who vote in the UN General Assembly.

The country has proposed again becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday night kicked off the campaign for membership, Antara reported.

Kalla marked the official start of the campaign for the nomination of UNSC non-permanent membership by sounding a gong at the UN Headquarters building, in an event that was highlighted by a reception and typical Indonesian cultural performances.

Also present at the event were hundreds of foreign diplomats, as well as the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission-I leaders, Abdul Haris, and Zainuddin Amali.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla remarked at the time that many countries have expressed their support for the nomination, but the campaign should continue.

Among the countries supporting Indonesias candidacy as a UNSC non-permanent member for the period of 2019-2020 are Zimbabwe and the Czech Republik.

Zimbabwes President, Robert Mugabe, conveyed his support during a bilateral meeting with President Joko Widodo, on the sidelines of the Asia-Africa conference in Jakarta in April 2015

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

In addition, Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Lubomir Zaoralek has expressed his countrys support for Indonesias candidacy.

“I can also promise that the Czech Republik will support Indonesia on the international stage because we see Indonesia as a partner,” Zaoralek told ANTARA recently.

Indonesia and the Czech Republik, according to Zaoralek, are countries that share similar values towards global peace. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

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