Dubai - Saudi Arabia said on Friday it was declining its United Nations
Security Council rotating seat, citing "double standards" that made
it hard for the world body to end conflict and wars.
"The kingdom sees that the method and work mechanism and the double
standards in the Security Council prevent it from properly shouldering its
responsibilities towards world peace," the foreign ministry said in a
statement carried by state news agency SPA.
It said it was unable to take its seat until reforms were introduced, but
did not specify what reforms it wanted.
The Security Council has been divided on how to handle the civil war in
Syria, with Western powers pushing for stronger sanctions against President
Bashar al-Assad and Russia vetoing resolutions to that end. Saudi Arabia has
been backing rebels in that conflict.
The United States, Britain, France, Russia and China are permanent members
of the Security Council and hold veto powers. Other states are brought onto the
body on a rotating basis.
