Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia dropped its bid for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) director general at the 37th conference of the Rome-based agency after the first round of election on Sunday put Brazil in the first place with 77 votes.

Spain trailed behind in second place with 72 votes, followed by Indonesia 12 votes, Austria 10 votes, Iraq six votes and Iran two votes, spokesman for the Coordinating Ministry for People`s Welfare Tito Setyawan said in a press statement on Sunday.

Indonesia nominated Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for People`s Welfare Indroyono Soesilo for the post.

Candidates who gained the smallest votes in the first round of the election are disqualified from the second round.

Iran dropped its bid for the FAO director general, followed by Indonesia, Iraq and Austria.

Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono as chief of the Indonesian delegation to the meeting announced Indonesia`s decision to drop its bid for the FAO director general in light of small votes gained in the first round.

"If Indonesia drops its bid now it will win a respect, and besides it will also gain a higher bargaining power with the country which eventually wins the election," he said. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011