Indonesia backs India for UN seat

[Guest guest]

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Indonesia backs India for UN seat

 

>From O P Verma

DH News Service

Jakarta, Jan 11

 

In a significant move, Indonesia today supported India's claim for

a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. Indonesia, which

itself was interested to become the UN Security Council

member, wanted two seats for Asia in the Council.

 

Since Indonesia, a recent convert to democracy, is passing

through a process of political and economic transformation, is

not interested now in this coveted position instead, it wants

another seat in the Council for Japan. Its support for India is

subject to the approval by the Indonesian Cabinet. Replying to a

question on India's desire to have a seat in the UN Security

Council, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, who heads

a fragile coalition government, said that a final decision in this

regard would be taken by his Cabinet soon.

 

Indonesia also supported India's peace initiative for resolving

the Kashmir problem and said it was against any kind of

terrorism, particularly the religious kind in the world.

 

"I support Mr Vajpayee's stand on Kashmir," said Mr Wahid while

talking to reporters after the Joint Press Conference which was

addressed both by Mr Wahid and Prime Minister Atal Behari

Vajpayee this morning. He was supportive of Mr Vajpayee's

unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir. "We are against terrorism,

including religious terrorism," Mr Wahid said, adding that

Kashmir issue could be resolved under the existing agreements

between the two countries probably hinting at the Shimla

agreement and Lahore initiative. "Indonesia is in favour of a

peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue," said Indonesian

Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab while talking to reporters. He also

denounced terrorism which he said has been threatening

democracies.

 

In his opening remarks the Indonesian President said both the

countries have similar views on international issues of political

arena. He lauded the South-South cooperation which could bring

more fruits and to face other challenges in the world.

 

In his opening remarks Mr Vajpayee pointed out that the leaders

of the two countries should meet regularly in India and Indonesia

as both have common maritime borders and common security

concerns. "We look forward to the visit to India of Indonesian Vice

President Mrs Megawati Soekarnoputri in the near future", he

said, adding that as multi-ethnic, multi-religious and diverse

societies, both the countries support each other's unity and

territorial integrity.

 

Observers here felt that Indo-Indonesia bilateral relations, which

had turned stale in the past, have been revived with Mr Wahid's

visit to India last year and reciprocal visit by Mr Vajpayee now.

Both the countries today signed several agreements, including

one for defence cooperation and one for establishing a Joint

Commission, which would meet annually at the level of foreign

ministers.

 

Three more agreements on cultural exchange programme,

cooperation in science and technology and a work-plan in

agriculture were also signed. India has specifically offered

assistance in ground water management, minor irrigation

projects and a number of training courses to Indonesians.

 

Later, addressing Indo-Indonesian Joint Business Council,

which is meeting after a gap of about five years, Mr Vajpayee

said Indonesia is India's largest trading partner among ASEAN

countries. It is also one of the leading investors in India in the

paper industry from the region. The trade turnover touching 1.3

billion dollars in 1999-2000 represented a 30 per cent growth

over the previous year's figures.

 

Indonesia has been a supplying edible oil, organic chemicals,

coal and petroleum to India. For decades Indian joint ventures

have been operating in Indonesia in areas like textile, steel,

garments and handtools.

 

During Mr Wahid's visit to India last year, an MoU was signed

between ONGC Videsh and Pertamina of Indonesia, under

which the Indian company would assist in oil exploration and

production at new sites to be developed in Indonesia. Tomorrow

Mr Vajpayee is leaving for Bali Island for a two-day visit before

returning to India on January 14.