Text: Saudi statement on not joining UN Security Council

Foreign Ministry Makes Statement on Saudi Arabia’s Apology for Not Accepting
Security Council Membership

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/readsinglenews.php?id=1158958&content_id=

Riyadh, Dhu-AlHijjah 13, 1434, Oct 18, 2013, SPA — The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs has issued a statement after the election of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia as a non- permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for
two years. Following is the text of the statement:

First of all, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is pleased to extend its sincere
thanks and deep gratitude to all countries that have given their confidence
to elect it as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council
for the next two years.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a founding member of the United Nations, is
proud of its full and permanent commitment to the purposes and principles of
the Charter of the United Nations, believing that commitment of all Member
States, honestly, truthfully and accurately, as agreed upon and stipulated
in the Charter is the real guarantee for world security and peace.

If the Member States of the United Nations consider wining the membership of
UN Security Council, which is, according to the Charter of the Organization,
the sole agency responsible for preserving world peace and security, as a
high honor and a great responsibility for participating directly and
effectively in the service of international issues, the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia believes that the manner, the mechanisms of action and double
standards existing in the Security Council prevent it from performing its
duties and assuming its responsibilities towards preserving international
peace and security as required, leading to the continued disruption of peace
and security, the expansion of the injustices against the peoples, the
violation of rights and the spread of conflicts and wars around the world.

In this regard, it is unfortunate that all international efforts that have
been exerted in recent years, and in which Saudi Arabia participated very
effectively, did not result in reaching reforms required to be made to
enable the Security Council to regain its desired role in the serve of the
issues of peace and security in the world.

With the current continuation of the Palestinian cause without a just and
lasting solution for 65 years, which resulted in several wars threatened
international peace and security is irrefutable evidence and proof of the
Security Council’s inability to carry out its duties and assume its
responsibilities.

The failure of the Security Council to make the Middle East a free zone of
all weapons of mass destruction, whether because of its inability to subdue
the nuclear programs of all countries in the region, without exception, to
the international control and inspection or to prevent any country in the
region from possessing nuclear weapons, is another irrefutable evidence and
proof of its inability to carry out its duties and hold its
responsibilities.

Allowing the ruling regime in Syria to kill and burn its people by the
chemical weapons, while the world stands idly, without applying deterrent
sanctions against Damascus regime, is also irrefutable evidence and proof of
the inability of the Security Council to carry out its duties and
responsibilities.

Accordingly, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, based on its historical
responsibilities towards its people, Arab and Islamic nations as well as
towards the peoples aspiring for peace and stability all over the world,
announces its apology for not accepting membership of the Security Council
until the Council is reformed and enabled, effectively and practically, to
carry out its duties and responsibilities in maintaining international peace
and security.
–SPA
13:12 LOCAL TIME 10:12 GMT