KUWAIT CITY: Gulf countries and Egypt have applauded the Kingdom’s decision to reject a UN Security Council seat in protest at the world body’s failure to act on issues like Syria and Palestine.
Saudi Arabia turned down a coveted two-year term on the council on Friday in a rare display of anger over the UN “double standard.”
Russia and China have repeatedly blocked resolutions to condemn Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Expressions of support from Gulf countries echoed the Kingdom’s complaints about the Security Council’s failure to end the war in Syria and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
Kuwait shares Riyadh’s pain, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah said, citing the “bloody massacres” in Syria and the “suffering of the Palestinian people.” He said the Saudi rejection of a council seat had sent a message to the world.
Plaudits also came from Cairo. “This brave Saudi position is favored with all of Egypt’s respect and appreciation,” Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said in a statement posted on his ministry’s Facebook page.
Qatar suggested the Saudi move could shake the world out of complacency. Addressing his Saudi counterpart, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah wrote on Twitter: “When you are angry, you send the world into disarray, so thank you.”
Saudi move ‘could shake world out of complacency’
