Arabs Urge Saudis To Take UN Seat

The flag of the United Nations in New York (file photo)

Arab envoys to the United Nations have called on Saudi Arabia to reverse its decision to reject a temporary seat on the UN Security Council.

The Arab Group, in a statement, urged the kingdom to continue what it called Saudi Arabia’s “brave role” defending Arab issues by taking the Security Council seat.

Saudi Arabia won a two-year seat on the Security Council in a vote on October 17 – but the next day stunned the diplomatic world when it rejected the seat.

Explaining the move, the Saudis condemned the Security Council’s failure to take action on the Syrian war and other Middle East issues.

No country has ever previously been elected to the Security Council and not taken the seat.

The Saudis are a leading backer of the Syrian rebels.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP