CRI听力:Riyadh Rejects Seat on UN Security Council

Saudi Arabia has rejected its freshly-acquired seat on the UN Security Council.

Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said the Security Council had failed in its duties towards the Syrian civil war.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to its historical responsibilities toward its people, toward the Arab and Islamic nation, and toward the world's people that love and hope for peace and stability in the world; the Kingdom has no other option but to turn down Security Council membership until it is reformed and given the means to accomplish its duties and assume its responsibilities in preserving the world's peace and security".
The move came just hours after the kingdom was elected as one of the Council's 10 non-permanent members.

It also followed another gesture of displeasure from the kingdom in which al-Faisal declined to address the General Assembly meeting last month.

The Saudi discontent stems from its frustration with long-time ally the United States.

The two are at odds over a number of Middle East issues, including how Washington has handled some of the region's crises, particularly in Egypt and Syria.

It also comes as ties between the US and Iran, the Saudi's regional foe, appear to be improving following a recent telephone conversation between US President Barack Obama and Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani.

The kingdom, which has backed the Syrian rebels in their struggle to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, has often criticized the international community for failing to halt Syria's civil war, now in its third year.

Saudi Arabia is also frustrated that the US backed away from launching punitive strikes against Assad's forces after Damascus agreed to allow inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations to destroy its chemical weapons arsenal.

The kingdom easily won the Security Council seat in a vote in New York, facing no opposition because there were no contested races for the first time in several years.