The Foreign Ministers of BRICS member nations held
their annual meeting on the margins of the 78th Session of the United Nations
General Assembly on September 20, chaired by the Russian Federation in its
capacity as the incoming BRICS Chair for 2024.
The ministers expressed their firm view that the G20
should continue to function in a productive manner and also commended the
successful hosting of the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi under the Indian
Presidency. They also welcomed the African Union as a permanent member of the
G20.
They noted the opportunities to build sustained
momentum for change by India, Brazil and South Africa presiding over the G20
from 2023-2025 and expressed support for continuity and collaboration in their
G20 presidencies and wished them all success in their endeavours.
Therefore, they reiterated their commitment to a
balanced approach by continuing to amplify and further integrate the voice of
the global South in the G20 agenda as under the Indian Presidency in 2023 and
the Brazilian and South African Presidencies in 2024 and 2025.
The ministers expressed strong condemnation of
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations whenever, wherever and by
whomsoever committed. They recognized the threat emanating from terrorism,
extremism conducive to terrorism and radicalization.
They committed to combating terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists,
and terrorism financing networks and safe havens.
They reiterated that terrorism should not be
associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.
They reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to
contribute further to the global efforts of preventing and countering the
threat of terrorism on the basis of respect for international law, in
particular the Charter of the United Nations, and human rights, emphasizing
that States have the primary responsibility in combating terrorism with the
United Nations continuing to play central and coordinating role in this area.
The ministers also stressed the need for a
comprehensive and balanced approach of the whole international community to
effectively curb terrorist activities, which pose a serious threat, including
in the present-day pandemic environment. They rejected double standards in
countering terrorism and extremism conducive to terrorism.
They called for an expeditious finalization and
adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the
UN framework and for launching multilateral negotiations on an international
convention for the suppression of acts of chemical and biological terrorism, at
the Conference of Disarmament.
They welcomed the activities of the BRICS
Counter-Terrorism Working Group and its five Subgroups based upon the BRICS
Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan. They
looked forward to further deepening counter-terrorism cooperation.
The Foreign Ministers also supported a comprehensive
reform of the UN, including its Security Council and supported the legitimate
aspirations of Brazil, India and South Africa, to play a greater role in the
UNSC.
The ministers recalled the consensus during the 15th
BRICS Summit on guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures on the
BRICS expansion process and the decision on inviting the Argentine Republic,
the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the
Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates to become full members of BRICS from January 1, 2024.
During the meeting, the ministers were also briefed
on the preparations for Russia’s upcoming BRICS Chairship in 2024.
Brazil, India, China and South Africa extended their
full support to Russia for its BRICS Chairship in 2024 under the theme ‘Strengthening
of multilateralism for the purposes of just global development and security’
and the holding of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.
ANI
