RI`s abstention a good step in UN voting on Iran

"The step taken by Indonesia is proof of the country`s role in its free and active foreign policy," he said here on Wednesday in regard to Indonesia`s abstention from the voting of an additional saction to be imposed by the UN on Iran following that country`s reluctance to suspend its uranium enrichment.

Indonesia was the only country of the 15 UNSC non permanent members which had the guts to say that it could not support the fresh sanction on Iran.

Indonesian Permanent Representative to the UN Marty Natalegawa said at the UN Headquarter in New York on Monday that his remark that the goals of the previous two resolutions - No 1737 and 1747 - were being achieved and that Iran was cooperating with the IAEA, thus "at this juncture, more sactions are not the best course."

The Indonesian abstention from supporting the UN resolution proved that Indonesia had a strong stance. "This will give an additional value and improve Indonesian image in the international fora," Suhaidi said.

"We are very proud of Indonesia as one of the UNSC member countries which has taken such a strong stance," he said.