DHAKA: Bangladesh has taken note of the decision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to turn down its newly elected position in the UN Security Council for the term 2014-15, as stated in a statement issued on 21 October 2013.

Bangladesh enjoys close brotherly and friendly relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Bangladesh fully appreciates the compulsions that led to Saudi Arabia’s decision to turn down a seat in the Security Council which is in need of effective reforms on the basis of a broad based consensus.

While respecting the sovereign decision of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh believes that Saudi Arabia’s presence in and engagement with the UN Security Council would help make effective progress towards a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Syria and on the question of Palestine.

As a close friend and a member of the Ummah, Bangladesh encourages Saudi Arabia, leader of the Muslim Ummah, to join the UN Security Council to promote and protect the interest of humanity at large, and that of the Ummah in particular, in this important global forum.

BDST: 1847 HRS, OCT 29, 2013
AKA/MMA/GCP eic@banglanews24.com