Jakarta,
June 11, 2018 (Antara) - Indonesia is proud of being elected as the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent member for the fourth time
owing to its experiences and dedication to maintain world peace by
joining various UN peacekeeping missions.
President Joko Widodo lauded the election of Indonesia as a UNSC member, saying that it is a reflection of the international community's recognition of the country's track record.
Indonesia, which will officially fill the seat as of January 1, 2019, beat Maldives by 144 votes to 46 after 190 UN member countries cast their votes at the UN Headquarters in New York on June 8, 2018.
Indonesia had earlier been a non-permanent member of the UNSC in 1973-1974, 1995-1996, and 2007-2008 terms.
The Security Council has 15 members comprising five permanent members -- the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China -- and 10 non-permanent members serving for two years.
Apart from Indonesia, four other countries were elected as non-permanent members of the UNSC: South Africa for Africa; the Dominican Republic for Latin America and the Caribbean; and Germany and Belgium for Western Europe and other countries.
Indonesia represents the Asia-Pacific region, replacing Kazakhstan whose membership will last until the end of 2018.
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who personally led the Indonesian delegation during the UNSC voting, outlined four priorities during its two-year tenure for the 2019-2020 period in the UNSC.
In a live video conference from New York, Marsudi said one of Indonesia's priorities will be to continue the efforts to materialize world peace by increasing the capacity of UN peacekeeping forces, including the role of women, among other things.
The Indonesian government will strengthen the ecosystem of global stability by encouraging dialog and peaceful settlement of conflicts.
Indonesia's second priority in the UNSC will be to build synergy between regional organizations and the UN to maintain peace and stability. When a dynamic development took place in a region, regional organizations were observed to be more quick to respond. Hence, it was necessary to strengthen relations and communications between regional organizations and the UN.
Indonesia's third priority will be to increase cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism, and radicalism.
Its fourth priority will be to synergize efforts to create peace in order to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Government of Indonesia deems it important to link peace issues with the achievement of SDGs.
Lauding the foreign ministry¿s achievement, Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla believes that Indonesia, as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), has the responsibility of maintaining world peace.
"It is very strategic. Moreover, (for Indonesia), as a large nation,
this position is very significant. Hence, for us, it is not just an
honor but also a responsibility, and (Indonesia) could directly talk on
various issues taking place in the world," Kalla noted in Tokyo, on June
11, 2018.
He also believes that Indonesia¿s success in the UNSC seat election was
backed its experience in peacekeeping in several countries through the
Garuda Contingent.
"Importantly, it is true that other countries view Indonesia's
experience and contribution in realizing peace. Since the 1950s,
Indonesia has always sent peacekeeping forces to some regions, including
in the Middle East region, Sinai Peninsula, Congo in Africa, and
Bosnia," he noted in Tokyo on Monday.
The involvement of Indonesia's Garuda contingent in UN peacekeeping
forces in conflict-ridden countries served as part of the important
assessments in the election of Indonesia who had campaigned for the UNSC
seat since 2016.
Many politicians have lauded Indonesia's election as a non-permanent member of UNSC.
"Indonesia's status as a non-permanent member of the UNSC could serve
as a momentum to strengthen its role in materializing world peace,"
Jazuli Juwaini, chairman of the Justice Prosperous Party (PKS) faction
in the House of Representatives, stated on in Jakarta, June 11.
Juwaini congratulated the Indonesian foreign minister for winning a seat at the UNSC that has made Indonesia proud.
Indonesia has a strong Constitutional mandate to help maintain world
peace based on eternal freedom and social justice.
Indonesia can offer concrete contribution to world peace by
participating in drafting peace resolutions in conflict-ridden countries
and Palestine, which is still being colonized by Israel.
Juwaini expressed hope that Indonesian diplomats would be capable of
playing strategic roles in defending Palestine and other Middle Eastern
and African nations facing conflicts.
Sukamta, secretary of the PKS faction, emphasized that Indonesia must
defend the rights of Palestinians and Rohingya Muslims.
"I congratulate the foreign minister (Retno L. P. Marsudi) and all delegates," he noted.
Indonesia can speak louder on international issues and in the fight for world peace.
"A stronger role in international diplomacy needs adequate financial
support. The government should give attention to this," he remarked.
He outlined that Indonesia should prioritize several issues, such as
the freedom of Palestine, the status of Jerusalem that has been claimed
by the United States as the Israeli capital, the Rohingya ethnic
minority's citizenship, and counterterrorism.
Indeed,
issues related to the plight of Palestinians, who have long been
struggling for an independent state, will receive prominence during
Indonesia's term at the UNSC.
"The Palestine issue will also become Indonesia's priority during its term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council," Minister Marsudi affirmed.
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EDITED BY INE
(T.F001/A/F. Assegaf/F. Assegaf) 11-06-2018
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