Saudi Arabia has reiterated its demand to bring about real reforms to the UN Security Council that would make the international organization play a more effective role in reinforcing world peace and security.
“The UN Security Council is no more capable of dealing with today’s challenges. It has failed to resolve the Palestinian and Syrian issues and preserve global security and peace,” said Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN.
He was speaking at a special session of the UN General Assembly to discuss negotiations between governments for UN reforms.
“My words cannot be described as an expression of pessimism or disappointment, but another attempt by Saudi Arabia to ring the alarm bell to draw world attention to the need for reforms,” Al-Mouallimi told the international gathering.
He said Saudi Arabia wanted comprehensive reforms for increasing the number of Security Council members and restricting the use of veto powers. “This is the only way to make the UNSC fulfill its commitment toward safeguarding world peace and security.”
He added that the Kingdom supports expanding the membership of the Security Council to include permanent seats for Arab states, African countries and other groups.Al-Mouallimi reiterated the Kingdom’s call for permanent Security Council members to stop the use of their veto power in matters related to crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide and ethnic cleansing.
He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to work with the United Nations and its member states in a comprehensive, fair, transparent and efficient manner.
Saudi Arabia surprised the world by turning down its seat at the Security Council last October. “I wish to inform you that the government of Saudi Arabia has decided that it will regrettably not be in position to assume its seat in the Security Council to which it was elected,” Al-Mouallimi wrote in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The Saudi government said the deadlock over Syria was “irrefutable evidence and proof of the inability of the Security Council to carry out its duties and responsibilities.”
