London (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Austria have agreed to support each others bid for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Indonesia will go ahead with its candidacy for the UNSC non-permanent membership for the 2019-2020 term, the minister counsellor/Indonesian permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Dewi Kejora said on Sunday.

UN is set to elect five non-permanent members of the UNSC in mid 2018 during the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Indonesia and Austria held the third bilateral consultation forum in Vienna on February 16. The Indonesian delegation, led by Director General of America and Europe at the Foreign Ministry Muhammad Anshor comprised officials of the Foreign Ministry and the Indonesian Embassy/Permanent Mission in Vienna, while the Austrian delegation was led by Director General of Politics at the Ministry of European Affairs, Integration and Foreign Relations Ambassador Alexander Marschik.

The meeting stressed the importance of strengthening the existing good bilateral relations between the two countries based upon the principles of common view and equal position in addressing a wide range of global issues, including disarmament and cross-cultural and interfaith dialogs.

Both countries also agreed to continue political cooperation, particularly in supporting each others bid for UNSC non-permanent membership.

At the meeting, the Indonesian delegation also proposed cooperation between the two countries peacekeeping centers and bilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism.

Indonesia sees Austria is one of its strategic political partners in Europe, the more so because it is chairman of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

In this regard, Austria expressed the hope that it could cooperate with Indonesia to encourage cooperation initiatives to fight against terrorism at a global level in view of Indonesias track record in combating terrorism.

At the meeting, the two countries also discussed economic, trade and investment cooperation.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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