Riyadh: Even as few Arab nations are urging the Saudi Arabian regime to reconsider its decision to reject the UN Security Council seat, last two days saw a great deal of support for the decision from people on online news and social media websites, with many describing it as representing the views of Muslims across the world.
Abdullatif Al-Zayani, GCC secretary-general, said the Kingdom wants the UNSC to reform and fulfill its mandate outlined in the UN Charter to maintain peace and security in the world. Al-Zayani said the UNSC has failed to carry out its responsibilities on issues affecting Arab countries.
Saudi columnist Ali Al-Mousa agreed with the decision, despite the heated competition for the seat on the UNSC.
"I was not surprised by this unprecedented move following the UN failure to do what it said it would do. It is better for the Kingdom to withdraw than to engage in mere political debate in a region of political unrest. Seventy percent of the UN Security Council's resolutions are concerned with the Middle East," Arab News quoted him as saying.
"If it had accepted the seat, Saudi Arabia would have had to take firm positions on issues such as the Arab Spring and the Iranian nuclear program, on which the UNSC might not deliver. This would eventually jeopardize its interests in the region. But now, there will be no political repercussions from the Kingdom's decision", he added.
Saudi bloggers using an active hashtag on Twitter agreed that the decision was a step in the right direction.
Masab Alganas, a blogger, recalled King Abdullah's speech at the Islamic Summit held in Riyadh last February when he said: "We will turn our backs on the UN Security Council if it fails to achieve international peace and security … especially in Palestine and Syria."
Another blogger, Abdulmajeed Al-Ghamdi, wrote that the Kingdom has sent a strong message to those who think that it can be taken for granted to support US foreign policy in the region.
Immediately after the state owned Saudi Press Agency aired the Kingdom's decision, political observers, community leaders, and critics and supporters alike hailed and praised the Saudi government's decision to reject the United Nations Security Council's non-permanent seat.
"This is not the first time the UNSC has been accused of double standard in dealing with world affairs. Saudi Arabia too has in the past on various occasions criticised the UNSC. But, its refusal to accept the UNSC rotating seat is more than a mere protest or a move to show anger against the world body. It shows a major shift in the foreign policy of this important Arab state, something which has sent a very positive message in the Muslim world at this time of crisis", said Aleem Faizee, chairman of Noble Education & Welfare Society (NEWS).
He said, the Saudi's decision is also a very strong signal to United Nations, and the United States and its allies to mend their ways. "The role of United Nations and of the US and its allies, vis-à-vis Muslim world affairs have always been questionable. But, besides their continued ignorance of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, it was their silence on the crisis in Syria that angered the Muslim world the most", he said.
Hailing the decision by Saudi Arabia to reject the UNSC seat, Ab Rehman al-Masri, a UAE based political observer in response to an email sent by ummid.com said, "The United Nations nowadays has become a platform to safeguard the interests of selected few. Saudi Arabia has done right by rejecting the UNSC seat. The decision is a welcome change."
Similar views are expressed by Abdullah al-Hamoud, a journalist. "What was this UNSC seat? Toothless, a mere token! The United Nations must bring the reforms if it indeed wants to save its credibility", he said.
Shams Tabrez, a political commentator, hailing the decision agreed with the accusations that the UN resorts to double standard. "The real power in the United Nations rests with the five countries that hold the veto power. In contrast to their proclaimed stand on world affairs, they use the world forum as per their convenience, and for the purpose that serve their interests and agenda", he said.
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