Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice chairwoman of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Inter-parliamentary Cooperation Board (BKSAP) Nurhayati Ali Assegaf said the secretary general of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), Anders Jhonson, had appreciated her bid for the IPU presidency.

Nurhayati said here on Saturday she met with Jhonson in Geneva, Switzerland, last week to explore the possibility of her nomination for the IPU presidency.

"The 5.5-hour meeting was held to discuss my bid for the IPU presidency. He appreciated it (my bid for IPU presidency)," she said.

As an IPU secretary general, Jhonson must be neutral in the election of IPU president. Neither did he want to support any other candidate for the IPU presidency, Nurhayati said.

Nurhayati said at the meeting Jhonson suggested that she communicate with six IPU regional coordinators soon in connection with her bid for the IPU presidency.

She said Indonesia`s bid for IPU presidency deserved support from all parties now that the predominantly Muslim country which was the world`s third largest democratic country was considered to be able to address situations in the Middle East and North Africa.

In addition, she said Jhonson also considered her able to implement the strategic plans of IPU.(*)

(S012/HAJM/H-YH)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011