"By becoming a non-permanent member of the UNSC, we will become one of the states that will make policies and take part in efforts to establish world peace," Vice President Jusuf Kalla remarked.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - After having been again elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Indonesia is resuming its campaign for the UNSC non-permanent membership 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.

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.

The Czech foreign affairs minister stated that Indonesia is a country that has promoted democracy in the region. Also, he pointed towards the moderate way of life enjoyed by its citizens.

He lauded Indonesias efforts in fighting the radical movement and countering terrorist acts.

"Indonesia also has the tendency to mediate, not only in disputed countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, but also in mediating clashes on the South China Sea issue," Zaoralek added.

On his official three-day visit to Indonesia, from February 25 to 27, the Czech foreign minister made a courtesy call on President Joko Widodo, as well as met with the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the Minister for Legal and Security Affairs.

Further, Vice President Kalla explained that Indonesia needs a powerful lobby with other countries, to assist in the country nominating itself to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2019.

Kalla noted that Indonesia, as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, is considered important, as the country will become one of the states that will formulate the policy.

"By becoming a non-permanent member of the UNSC, we will become one of the states that will make policies and take part in efforts to establish world peace," he remarked.

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said Indonesia is approaching this campaign in a serious manner.

Retno noted that to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Indonesia has promoted the theme, The True Partner for World Peace.

"Because if we talk about diplomacy-Indonesia, then Indonesia becomes an agent of world peace that is already strong. So we play a lot on the issue of democracy. Bali Democracy Forum is already the one worldwide event. So the contribution of Indonesia to deploy values of democracy was already highly acclaimed," Retno said.

In the UN Security Council there are two types of members, permanent and non-permanent. Permanent members consist of the United States, Great Britain, China, France and Russia, who were the major force as the Allied Block in World War II.

Meanwhile, non-permanent members of the UNSC are rotated through an election system.

In the last three years, Indonesia has sought support from friendly countries for non-permanent membership on the UN Security Council, the most decisive institution at the United Nations.

If Indonesia becomes a non-permanent member of the UNSC, it can speak directly to the permanent members on issues of global peace and security.

Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir has stated that the country will strive to become a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2019-2020 period, to assist in maintaining regional and world stability.

"We will continue to strive to gain support from friendly countries for membership in the UNSC. We can contribute significantly to maintaining global stability," he noted.

According to Arrmanatha, Indonesia has contributed to maintaining security and stability in the region, and so, it is now keen to contribute to realizing security and stability at a global level by becoming a non-permanent member of the UNSC.

"So far, we have contributed significantly to maintaining 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.(*)

Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016