Moscow Slams Saudi for Rejecting Security Council Seat, Paris Says Shares Riyadh 'Frustration'

Russia on Friday sharply criticized Saudi Arabia for rejecting membership of the U.N. Security Council, slamming the kingdom's "strange" argument that the body had failed over the Syria conflict, as France said it shared Riyadh's “frustration.”

"We are surprised by Saudi Arabia's unprecedented decision," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The kingdom's arguments arouse bewilderment and the criticism of the U.N. Security Council in the context of the Syria conflict is particularly strange," it added.

Meanwhile, France said it shared Riyadh's frustration, noting that it has “an ongoing dialogue on the subject of Syria with Saudi Arabia."

"We share its frustration after the Security Council's paralysis," French foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said, noting that France is proposing reforms to the council's veto rights.

France in September proposed that the five permanent Security Council members no longer have the power to veto resolutions when they involve "mass crimes."

Permanent members Russia and China have used their vetoes on the Security Council to block resolutions against the Assad regime.

"Over the last two-and-a-half years, the Security Council has not been able to take a position on Syria," Nadal said.

At the U.N. General Assembly in September, French President Francois Hollande proposed reforms to the council that would see permanent members give up their veto rights in the case of mass crimes.

"This is a simple answer that would improve the Security Council's effectiveness and probably also its legitimacy and ability to assume its responsibilities in maintaining global peace and security," Nadal said.

For its part, Turkey lashed out Friday at the United Nations for failing to resolve international crises and said Riyadh's decision must be respected.

"The United Nations are losing quite a lot of their credibility," Dogan news agency quoted Turkish President Abdullah Gul as telling journalists in Istanbul.

"I understand that Saudi Arabia's decision aims to draw the international community's attention to this situation ... We must respect their decision," said Gul.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly called for a reform of the 15-member Security Council to give Muslim nations more clout.

Saudi Arabia's angry rejection of the seat one day after winning it is a United Nations first that stunned members of the body Friday.

But diplomats said there had been no official notice from Riyadh of its refusal to take up the seat on January 1. It was possible the conservative kingdom could change its mind, they added.

"This is totally unexpected. We all had to look into the council history for a precedent and there is not one," said a Security Council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Campaigning and securing a seat normally takes years of preparation which makes the announcement even more surprising."

Saudi Arabia was one of five nations elected by the U.N. General Assembly to start a two-year term on the 15-member Security Council. The others included Chad, Chile, Lithuania and Nigeria. All had stood unopposed.

"There was nothing controversial about the election. But the government has made it clear in recent weeks that it is concerned about Syria and the Palestine issue," said a second U.N. diplomat.

"They will have to write to set out their official position and then the U.N. will have to decide the next step," the envoy added.

"There could be a new election, but it is possible that Saudi Arabia can be persuaded to change its stance."

The United Nations secretariat and U.N. General Assembly president had no immediate comment.

Saudi Arabia won a seat for the first time in Thursday's election.

"Work mechanisms and double-standards on the Security Council prevent it from carrying out its duties and assuming its responsibilities in keeping world peace," the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement explaining its move.

"Therefore Saudi Arabia... 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," it added.