Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has called for comprehensive reforms of the UN Security Council to "expand participation and representation and enhance its response to crises." Saudi Press Agency reported that Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated at the preparatory ministerial meeting for the "Future Summit 2024," held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, that "constructive relations based on dialogue in resolving disputes and cooperation in establishing security and stability will be a pathway to achieving comprehensive development."
The Saudi Foreign Minister emphasized the need to develop and reform multilateral international cooperation frameworks "to include the concerns and needs of all countries, including developing countries," stressing the importance of including these reforms in UN bodies. Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who led the Saudi delegation participating in the 78th UN session in New York, affirmed that Saudi Arabia is tirelessly working through its memberships in international organizations and blocs to reactivate the development path in relations between nations, making it a viable factor for cooperation and understanding among them.
He noted that, according to the 2022 Sustainable Development Report, the Kingdom has made significant progress as it prioritizes sustainable development within its "Vision 2030." The Saudi Foreign Minister mentioned that constructive relations based on dialogue in resolving disputes and cooperation in establishing security and stability would pave the way for comprehensive development, explaining that international cooperation frameworks should facilitate and support partnership and cooperation while resisting pressures of competition and polarization, and discouraging calls that incite hatred among peoples and disrespect for religions, which fuel extremism and terrorism.
Regarding the Future Summit, set to take place in September 2024, Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed hope that it would address fundamental rights such as the right to development and food, maintain the crucial role of the family, and reject the contempt or belittling of religions. Additionally, the Saudi Foreign Minister warned against the growing role of armed groups outside state control in creating crises and threatening international peace and security. His statements came during an informal dialogue session at the foreign ministers' level between the Arab Summit Troika and the Security Council, held on the sidelines of the General Assembly's activities.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who chaired the Arab side, stated that the ease with which these groups acquire technological means and advanced weapons undermines state institutions, noting that their impact transcends geographical borders, posing an escalating threat to security and stability. He urged the Security Council to take serious and strict measures against armed groups to mitigate their harm.
He explained that the international community faces several common challenges that necessitate collective action to effectively address them, emphasizing that progress in addressing these issues cannot be achieved without providing a secure and stable regional and international environment that enables countries to work in partnership with one another.
The Saudi Foreign Minister pointed out that, given that Arab issues prominently feature among the matters addressed by the Security Council, enhancing cooperation and joint action between the Arab League and the Security Council to establish peace and security in the Arab world is of utmost importance. He stressed that the Kingdom is keen to advance this cooperation to result in a shared perspective for dealing with crises and finding peaceful solutions.
In this context, Prince Faisal bin Farhan welcomed the positive results of constructive discussions aimed at developing a roadmap to support the peace track, which brought together the Saudi communication and coordination team with the Sanaa delegation in Riyadh, with Omani participation. He expressed the Kingdom's hope that dialogue among Yemeni parties would pave the way for security and stability in Yemen, leading to a future characterized by comprehensive revival and sustainable development.
The Arab Summit Troika consists of Algeria, the previous summit's president, Saudi Arabia, the current president, and Bahrain, which will host the upcoming Arab League summit. The Saudi Foreign Minister praised the efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and member states in responding to Saudi Arabia's call for a special session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of member states, regarding the repeated desecration and burning of copies of the Holy Quran in Sweden and Denmark, which resulted in a decision aimed at establishing appropriate measures to prevent vandalism or undermining the sanctities and beliefs of others, and working to stop actions that incite hatred and tarnish global harmony.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan reiterated Saudi Arabia's principled position, which condemns and denounces practices contrary to interfaith tolerance and the culture of acceptance, representing a manifestation of racism and hatred and a reflection of Islamophobia. The Foreign Minister also expressed Saudi Arabia's support for the issues of the Islamic world and its backing for the legitimate aspirations of Islamic peoples to secure their rights as guaranteed by law, international conventions, and UN resolutions, foremost among them the Palestinian cause, and the pursuit of a just and comprehensive solution according to international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
