on october 18, 2013 at 11:49 am in news
RIYADH (AFP) – Saudi Arabia rejected
membership of the UN Security Council on
Friday, a day after it was elected to the
body, accusing it of “double-standards” in
resolving world conflicts.
“Work mechanisms and double-standards
on the Security Council prevent it from
carrying out its duties and assuming its
responsibilities in keeping world peace,”
the foreign ministry said.
“Therefore Saudi Arabia… has no other
option but to turn down Security Council
membership until it is reformed and given
the means to accomplish its duties and
assume its responsiblities in preserving the
world’s peace and security,” a statement
said.
For the first time ever, oil-rich, conservative
Saudi Arabia won a seat Thursday on the
15-member council, which has a key role in
dealing with world conflicts.
Saudi UN Ambassador Abdullah al-
Mouallimi said that reflected Riyadh’s
“long-standing policy in support of
moderation and in support of resolving
disputes in peaceful means.”
But the foreign ministry said Saudi Arabia
declines to be a member of a body unable
to tackle long-standing conflicts in the
Middle East or rid the region of the threat
of nuclear war.
It pointed specifically to the nearly three-
year civil war in Syria and the protracted
Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as key reasons.
“Failing to find a solution to the Palestinian
cause for 65 years” it said, has led to
“numerous wars that have threatened world
peace.”
Likewise, it said, “allowing the regime in
Syria to kill its own people with chemical
weapons… without confronting it or
imposing any deterrent sanctions… is a
proof of the inability of the Security Council
to carry out its duties and assume its
responsibilities.”
The ministry also criticised the body’s
“failure” to turn the Middle East into a
region free from weapons of mass
destruction, including nuclear arms — in a
reference to Iran and Israel.
Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia is a fierce critic of
Shiite Iran’s nuclear programme, which the
West and Israel suspect of seeking to
develop a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran
denies. Israel is the sole, if undeclared,
nuclear power in the region.
Saudi Arabia is a major backer of rebels
trying to topple Syrian President Bashar al-
Assad who is allied to Tehran.
Riyadh has been a vocal critic of the UN’s
handling of the conflict in Syria, where a
peaceful movement that called for reforms
emerged in March 2011 and was met with a
brutal repression. It quickly escalated into
civil war.
Last month, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince
Saud al-Faisal refused to speak or even
hand out a copy of his speech at the UN
General Assembly in anger over the Security
Council deadlock on Syria and Palestine.
“It was a sign of the frustration felt,” said
Nawaf Obaid, a visiting fellow at Harvard
University’s Belfer Center and an advisor to
Saudi officials.
Five countries have permanent seats on the
Security Council — the United States,
Britain, France, Russia and China. The other
10 seats are awarded for two-year periods
by the General Assembly, which holds a
vote every year for five of the seats.
Saudi Arabia was chosen by the 193-
member UN General Assembly, along with
Chile, Chad, Lithuania and Nigeria.
Security Council powers had cautiously
welcomed Saudi Arabia’s election.
“Having them on the Security Council allows
you to debate those issues in a way which
you can’t if they are not on the council,”
said one UN diplomat.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/saudi-rejects-un-security-council-seat/

When my country is busy lobbying for the seat, wetin concern Bro' Lucky and his cohort with their neighbor's suffering.

Hmmm.... they can say that.... But are they looking at bring their problems to a lasting solution provided they agree to join them? because being a member, you also have a say in world security issues.

My advice for them is to hold them to ransom with their oil power and create a lasting peace in their region using their slot.

. . They are condeming those in charge and they are not ready to join and be able to share ideas they think could solve these problems.....Smh. . . . . . . . . . . And thats similar to what is happening in nigeria where people condems the government and they are not ready to go into politics. . . .