Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah called on Thursday for introducing comprehensive reforms at the United Nations Security Council whereby “participation and representation would be expanded” at the international body.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly session in New York, at a ministerial meeting to prepare for the Summit of the Future in September 2024, he also called for bolstering the Security Council’s response to crises.
He added that constructive relations based on dialogue to resolve disputes and cooperation aimed at consolidating security and stability are the way forward in achieving comprehensive development, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
Moreover, Prince Faisal underlined the need to develop and reform multilateral international cooperation to account for the concerns and needs of all nations, including developing ones.
He stressed that Saudi Arabia is working tirelessly at international organizations to reinforce relations between countries and support cooperation and understanding between them.
Furthermore, he said Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in sustainable development, as shown in the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022, adding that this was one of the main objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Also on Thursday, Prince Faisal took part in the Informal Interactive Dialogue between the Members of the Security Council and Representatives of the Arab Summit Troika and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.
The FM warned of the threat posed by armed groups operating outside the state in creating crises and threatening international peace and security.
He urged the Security Council to take “serious and firm” measures to limit the danger of these groups.
The international community is facing common challenges that demand collective work to effectively confront them, he went on to say. This can only be achieved through providing a secure and stable regional and international environment that allows the countries to cooperate together.
He noted that Arab affairs are among the main issues tackled at the Security Council. So, bolstering cooperation and collective work between the Arab League and Council, with the aim of achieving peace and security in the Arab world, is a priority.
Saudi Arabia is keen on bolstering this cooperation to reach a common approach in addressing crises and finding peaceful solutions to them, he remarked.
In this regard, he welcomed the positive outcomes of the serious discussions between the Saudi communication and coordination team with a delegation from Yemen’s Sanaa, with Oman’s participation, that were held in Riyadh to reach a roadmap to support peace.
He hoped the dialogue between Yemeni parties will lead to security and stability in the war-torn country.
The Troika is formed of previous Arab summit president Algeria, current president Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which will host the next summit.
Prince Faisal took part in a meeting of Organization of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers in New York. He reiterated Saudi Arabia’s firm stance that condemns actions that undermine tolerance between religions and that promote hatred, discrimination and Islamophobia.
He underscored Riyadh’s support of causes in the Islamic world, especially the Palestinian cause and the need to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the conflict with Israel based on international resolutions and the 2002 Arab peace initiative that would ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
