RIYADH: The Kingdom’s General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) has pledged to support Indonesia’s re-election to the world’s aviation authority for the next three years.

The backing was announced at a meeting hosted by the Indonesian mission here on Monday night, as the country seeks support for its bid for a place on the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Indonesia is seeking the support of Central Asian and the Middle East countries. Representatives from 14 foreign missions attended the reception, including GACA’s representative Saud A.R. Hashem, director of international cooperation.

The ICAO, a specialist United Nations agency, was established in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the convention on international civil aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention.

Addressing the gathering, Soesilo Indroyono, Indonesia’s special envoy to the ICAO, said his country was committed to making a “significant contribution to the work of the council, its committees and working groups to promote safety, security, environment and the rule of law in international civil aviation.”

Later, speaking to Arab News, he said Indonesia was an ICAO council member from 1962 to 2001 and was now seeking re-election for the period 2016 to 2019 at the polls taking place in October, at the 39th Assembly of the ICAO at its headquarters in Montreal, Canada. He said the country had failed to gain re-election previously and was now seeking the support of friendly countries.He also highlighted Indonesia’s commitments and contributions, which included measures to ensure safety, environmental protection, and use of renewable sources of energy.

Earlier, in his welcome address, newly appointed Indonesian ambassador in Riyadh, Agus Maftuh Abegebriel, said his country was ready to take up its responsibilities in international governance.

The meeting was attended by Indonesian deputy chief of mission, Sunarko, and diplomats from their mission office in Riyadh and Jeddah including acting Consul General Dicky Yunus and Consul for Transportation Affairs Nahduddin S. Hasan.