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Jordan may take over Saudi seat in UNSC

February 10, 2014 at 2:32 pm

After it was rejected by Saudi Arabia, Jordan is expected to accept the Arab seat in the UNSC, Western diplomats said on Friday.


Saudi rejected the seat in protest against the failure of the UNSC to end the conflict in Syria, in addition to other major issues in the Middle East.

The UN General Assembly, which consists of 193 nations, chose Saudi Arabia for the Arab UNSC seat last month. It should have held this seat for two years starting from next January.

In a statement issued by its foreign ministry, Saudi Arabia surprisingly announced its rejection to the seat.

Most UN diplomats think that Saudi Arabia must send an official letter to the UNGA about the rejection of the seat. It has not sent that letter yet.

Based on Western sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, Jordan is likely to accept taking over the Saudi seat in the UNSC.

These diplomats, who were surprised that Saudi rejected the seat, said that Jordan taking over the seat needs the agreement of 2/3 UNGA members.

However, a number of UN diplomats said that Jordan is afraid of replacing Saudi Arabia in the UNSC because it is connected to several issues to be sorted out by the international body.

“Frankly, I do not think that Jordan is willing to join UNSC,” a senior UN diplomat said.

In favour of Saudi Arabia, Jordan withdrew from a race to join the UN Human Rights Council last week. It gave the chance for Saudi to go uncontested for the seat.