Saudi Arabia's withdrawal stuns UN Security Council, slammed by Russia

[Arabian Legend]

Saudi withdrawal stuns UN Security Council



Saudi Arabia's rejection of a U.N. Security Council seat Oct. 18, accusing the body of "double standards" over the Syria war, has sparked disarray among U.N. diplomats, drawing a strong reaction from Russia.

The Russian foreign ministry sharply criticized Saudi Arabia's "strange" argument on the council's record on Syria. Russia and Saudi Arabia have a traditionally testy relationship made worse by the Russia's support for Syria's President Bashar al-Assad while Saudi Arabia is a major backer of opposition rebels.

"We are surprised by Saudi Arabia's unprecedented decision," said a Russian foreign ministry statement.

"In this way, Saudi Arabia has excluded itself from collective work within the Security Council to support international peace and security. The kingdom's arguments arouse bewilderment, and the criticism of the UN Security Council in the context of the Syrian conflict is particularly strange."

However, France said several countries share Saudi Arabia's frustration.
"We think that Saudi Arabia would have brought a very positive contribution to the Security Council, but we do also understand the frustration of Saudi Arabia," France's U.N. ambassador Gerard Araud told reporters.
"The fact is that the Security Council has been unable to act now for more than two years," he added.

Araud said the Saudi reaction is "the reflection of the frustration of a large part of the international community."

Saudi Arabia was one of five nations elected by the U.N. General Assembly on Oct. 17 to start a two-year term on the Security Council. The others were Chad, Chile, Lithuania and Nigeria. All had stood unopposed. No country has ever won a council seat and then refused to take it up.

'Stamping of feet'

Gregory Gause, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Doha Center who has closely followed Saud affairs, called the action "puzzling" as Saudi Arabia had even given its diplomats special training courses to prepare for the council term.

But diplomats highlighted how Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal refused to speak or even hand out a copy of his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in September to show anger over handling of the Syria conflict.

"It is kind of a stamping of feet on the ground saying 'we are here don't forget about us, don't ignore us.' But it does seem to be a very short term strategy," Gause commented.

Diplomats said it could be possible to persuade the Saudi government to reverse the decision announced in an outspoken foreign ministry statement. "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 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," it added.

The government said "allowing the ruling regime in Syria to kill and burn its people" with chemical weapons is "irrefutable evidence and proof of the inability of the Security Council to carry out its duties and responsibilities."

Amid the diplomatic disarray, the decision again highlighted international divisions over the Syria conflict. The Security Council passed its first resolution on the civil war in September, when it ordered the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons.

Russia and China have vetoed three other western-backed resolutions seeking to put pressure on al-Assad over the conflict, which the U.N. says has left more than 100,000 dead.


INTERNATIONAL - Saudi Arabia's withdrawal stuns UN Security Council, slammed by Russia

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Yep, we want to violate the Intl law once more

"In this way, Saudi Arabia has excluded itself from collective work within the Security Council to support international peace and security. The kingdom's arguments arouse bewilderment, and the criticism of the UN Security Council in the context of the Syrian conflict is particularly strange."

Putin must be so mad at us now dude!


Where is @anonymus We need to hear from him on this ..

 

[Karasonmuno]

It was indeed an unexpected development. It is also somewhat surprising that Russia has reacted so strongly to it.

 

[Arabian Legend]

Yep, we want to violate the Intl law once more


Putin must be so mad at us now dude!

Putin can come and lick my boots. This move taken by KSA will put more pressure on his A$$ inside the UN.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

It was indeed an unexpected development. It is also somewhat surprising that Russia has reacted so strongly to it.

We don't really care about what the Russians say. We've got friends on our side including your country. We don't trust the Russians, and they don't.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

This only highlights what everyone already knew all along, the UNSC is not a fair system.

Though it is not yet as broken as the League of Nations before it.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Putin can come and lick my boots. This move taken by KSA will put more pressure on his A$$ inside the UN.

His MF oh I mean FM said the Saudis are excluding themselves from the Security Council I wonder what the next move might be.


I would like to hear from China too.

 

[Karasonmuno]

We don't really care about what the Russians say. We've got friends on our side including your country. We don't trust the Russians, and they don't.

Well, I didn't really expect Russia to be so upset by it. Wouldn't they be glad, since Saudi Arabia and Russia currently have conflicting geopolitical interests in the Middle East?

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

This only highlights what everyone already knew all along, the UNSC is not a fair system.

Though it is not yet as broken as the League of Nations before it.

I heard that even the Chinese Gov't isn't quite happy about the UN either as some countries may use it to attack China - on human rights and other stupid stuff - ...

 

[idune]

Well, I didn't really expect Russia to be so upset by it. Wouldn't they be glad, since Saudi Arabia and Russia currently have conflicting geopolitical interests in the Middle East?

I am sure Russia is glad that Saudis are not in the table with tamper tantrum. But Russians would not take crap propaganda from Saudis either. Saudis are not going to be key to middle east geo politics Russians are in that thought for long time, besides, they have scores to settle. US increasingly coming to that same realization is an utter blow to 3 decades old house of saud comfort zone.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

We have been trading tough language since the invasion of Afghanistan. Interestingly though, we never recognized the USSR so it is a little bit complicated.

Well, I didn't really expect Russia to be so upset by it. Wouldn't they be glad, since Saudi Arabia and Russia currently have conflicting geopolitical interests in the Middle East?

Assad is the last man standing ally of the Russians after Saddam. They benefited from his father and him in the past by purchasing their weapons, investing in Syria, and hosting a military base.

Another key element which makes Russia acts they way she acts is the coming gas pipeline from Russia to Europe crossing Syria.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

I am sure Russia is glad that Saudis are not in the table with temper tantrum

Evidence? From what see we concluded that the Russians didn't like such move, but maybe you have got the magic stick to see how they are thinking about this.

But Russians would not take crap propaganda from Saudis either

The Saudis didn't lay out any propaganda the hell are you talking about?

Saudis are not going to be key to middle east geo politics Russians are in that thought for long time, besides, they have scores to settle

If the Russians lose Assad then they gonna lose everything in the ME. But the Saudis are here!

US increasingly coming to that same realization is an utter blow to 3 decades old house of saud comfort zone.

I love the way you try to portray the scene, obviously you hate us from the bottom of your heart, but the sad thing is your hatred made you blind

I am sure Russia is glad that Saudis are not in the table with temper tantrum. But Russians would not take crap propaganda from Saudis either. Saudis are not going to be key to middle east geo politics Russians are in that thought for long time, besides, they have scores to settle. US increasingly coming to that same realization is an utter blow to 3 decades old house of saud comfort zone.

 

[HAIDER]

KSA made smart move, because so many issues were waiting for voting including regional issue, where KSA would avoid for voting. Also those decision might increase regional animosity . Dealing Syria and Egypt resolution is tough to deal for KSA.

 

[Surenas]

The UNSC may be a inefficient council, but in my honest opinion, to be part of it is more preferable than to be absent from it. After all, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. But perhaps KSA feels that their UNSC seat would put to much attention on their own policies, which are sometimes viewed with suspicion by the West and certain human rights organization.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

The UNSC may be a inefficient council, but in my honest opinion, to be part of it is more preferable than to be absent from it. After all, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. But perhaps KSA feels that their UNSC seat would put to much attention on their own policies, which are sometimes viewed with suspicion by the West and certain human rights organization.

No, there is a reason KSA didn't state and might be regarded positively by Iran