Islam states entitled to permanent seat on Security Council: Saudi FM

Islamic countries, as an important group in the world, are entitled to one permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud bin al-Faisal said Saturday.

Under normal conditions, if the enlargement is aimed at making the council more comprehensive, representative and impartial, Islamic countries have the right to get one seat, the minister told a press conference.

Faisal was not optimistic about the possibility of the expansion of the council at the UN General Assembly in September owing to conflict of interests of countries and the complication of the issue. None of the current plans are mature, he said.

He also said the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) will hold a ministerial meeting next week in the Yemeni capital of Sana to discuss its own reform and relevant issues.

The OIC, based in the Saudi city of Jeddah and founded in 1970, has 57 member countries and a population of over 1 billion.

Source: Xinhua