United Nations, New York (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and 20 other countries have been elected as members of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), United Nations organ facilitating international cooperation on standards-making and problem-solving in economic and social issues.

Indonesia has been a member of ECOSOC for eleven times, since Indonesia was accepted as the 60th member of the United Nations on September 28, 1950.

The 21 countries, which were elected in a UN General Assembly session, will serve in ECOSOC for three years, from 2012 to 2014.

ECOSOC has 54 member countries.

Last Monday (Oct 24), the 193-member General Assembly elected 18 ECOSOC members, including Indonesia, while three countries, namely Switzerland, the Netherlands and Bulgaria, were appointed to replace Norway, Belgium and Hungary, which had withdrawn.

To become an ECOSOC member, a candidate must get votes from at least 2/3 of the UN General Assembly`s member countries.

In the election, Indonesia, India and Japan won the seats to represent Asia, while Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Nigeria and Libya represent Africa.

Latin America and Caribbean are represented by the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Brazil, and Cuba, while West Europe is represented by Span, France, Germany, Ireland, and Turkey. The only seat available for East Europe is won by Belarus.

Previously Indonesia had become ECOSOC member for the periods of 2007-2009, 2004-2006, 1999-2001, 1994-1996, 1989-1991, 1984-1986, 1979-1981, 1974-1975, 1969-1971 and 1956-1958.

In 1970 and 2000, Indonesia had been elected as the president of ECOSOC, and in 1969 and 1999 as the vice president of ECOSOC.

In recent years there has been mounting international support for strengthening the role of ECOSOC both within the UN system of governance and in the governance of the global economy.
(Uu.F001/HAJM/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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