Indonesia Has Four Priorities in UNSC

Jakarta, MINA — The Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, has said Indonesia has four priorities during its two-year tenure as one of the non-permanent members of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) from 2019-2020.

In a live video conference from New York, which was followed by Antara here on Friday night, after Indonesia was elected a non-permanent member of the UNSC, Marsudi said one of Indonesia`s priorities would be to continue the efforts to realise world peace. The Indonesian government would strengthen the ecosystem of global stability by encouraging dialogue and peaceful settlement of conflicts. Efforts to realise world peace would include increasing the capacity of UN peacekeeping forces, including the role of women.

Indonesia`s second priority in the UNSC would be to build synergy between regional organisations and the UN to maintain peace and stability. When a very dynamic development took place in a region, regional organisations were more quick to respond. Therefore, it was necessary to strengthen relations and communications between regional organisations and the UN.

Indonesia`s third priority would be to increase cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and radicalism.

And, its fourth priority would be to synergise efforts to create peace with that to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Government of Indonesia considered it important to link peace issues with the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Indonesia was elected non-permanent member of the UNSC representing Asia by defeating the Maldives with 144 votes to 46. Four other countries were also elected non-permanent members — South Africa for Africa, the Dominican Republic for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Germany and Belgium for Western Europe and other regions.

Indonesia will officially take the seat on January 1, 2019. Indonesia had previously been a non-permanent member of the UNSC in 1973-1974, 1995-1996 and 2007-2008. (T/RS5/RS1),

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)