On September 4, 2020, the 12th BRICS meeting was held via video-conference in which ministers of Foreign Affairs/ International Relations participated under the Chairmanship of the Russian Federation. They exchanged views on major international and regional issues in the political, security, economic, trade, financial and sustainable development spheres, besides reviewing the progress in intra-BRICS activities. Besides, they discussed the possibilities for mutual support of their initiatives and closer cooperation at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the UN General Assembly, the Ministers expressed support for continued cooperation of BRICS countries in areas of mutual interest, including through regular exchanges amongst their Permanent Missions to the United Nations and in other international fora.
Areas of Discussion
Some of the key areas of discussion are as follows.
International law and human rights The members reaffirmed the commitment to upholding and respecting international law, including the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and to the central role of the UN in an international system in which sovereign States cooperate to maintain peace and security, advance sustainable development and ensure the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
Coronavirus fight The leaders stressed on international challenges posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the pressing need to preserve jobs and income, in particular for the most vulnerable groups of society. They underscored the urgency of restoring international growth and trade, strengthening market stability and resilience through bilateral and multilateral cooperation between States. They also emphasised the importance of enhancing BRICS countries’ positive contribution to international public health security, the need to pursue coordinated and decisive actions, including in the framework of the UN, the WHO, and other international organisations.
They highlighted the need to collaborate vigorously to the Covid-19 pandemic and to mitigate its consequences for sustainable development.
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development The leaders recommitted the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goals in full and on time, as well as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement. Stress was laid on the importance of intra-BRICS scientific, technical, innovation, and entrepreneurship cooperation to achieve early economic recovery and high-quality development. They appreciated the New Development Bank (NDB) for its role in infrastructure, sustainable development financing, and its contribution in addressing the health and economic issues, especially for establishing an Emergency Assistance Facility up to US$ 10 billion and approving four loans worth US$ 4 billion to meet related requirements.
Disarmament and non-proliferation The BRICS ministers also discussed the need to continue working together for disarmament and non-proliferation, and ensure the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. A legally binding multilateral instrument was emphasised so that the gap in the international legal regime, applicable to outer space, could be bridged through means like practical transparency and confidence-building measures (CBMs), to prevent the placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force against these weapons.
BRICS cooperation Furthermore, the members stressed the importance of developing more BRICS cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes through the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
Biological and toxin weapon All the members underscored the paramount importance of compliance with and of strengthening the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons (BTWC), through a protocol to the convention that provides for an efficient verification mechanism, among others. The BTWC is the core instrument for biological and toxin weapons, the functions of which, including what concerns the UN Security Council, should not be duplicated by other mechanisms. Efforts to implement it should be consistent with the BTWC.
Chemical weapons The ministers reiterated their support for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and stressed on the need to preserve the integrity of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in a constructive dialogue to restore the spirit of consensus in the OPCW.
Rise of violence Rise of violence and continuing conflicts in different parts of the world was also an important concern. The leaders expressed their view that conflicts should be resolved by peaceful means, or political dialogue irrespective of the historic background and distinctive nature in line with principles and norms of international law, particularly the UN Charter. Mention was made of the UNSC Resolution 2532 (2020), which demands a general and immediate stoppage of hostilities except for military operations against terrorism, particularly continuing armed conflicts in parts of Africa. The African Union’s commitment to promote the ‘Silencing the Guns by 2020’ initiative was commended. They also talked about the situation in Mali.
Racism and xenophobia The ministers called for a firm stand against the rehabilitation of Nazi ideology, racism, xenophobia, and the distortion of history, and called upon the State members to strengthen international cooperation, international governance, and participation of developing countries in international decision-making.
Terrorist attacks The ministers condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. They extended their support for continuing the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process; appreciated the diplomatic negotiations in bilateral and multilateral formats to resolve all issues related to the Korean Peninsula; strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed; showed their unwavering commitment to contribute further to the global efforts of preventing and countering the threat of terrorism; stressed the need for a comprehensive and balanced approach of the whole international community to effectively curb the terrorist activities; welcomed the outcomes of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Group (CTWG) and its subgroups’ inaugural meetings on August 31-September 2, 2020; expressed satisfaction at the approval of the BRICS counter-terrorism strategy by the CTWG; and emphasised the need for launching multilateral negotiations on an international convention for the suppression of acts of chemical and biological terrorism.
Information and communication technologies The participants reiterated the importance of an open, secure, stable, non-discriminatory, accessible, and peaceful environment for information and communications technologies (ICTs), including technical advancement, business development, safeguarding the security of States and public interests, etc. and stressed on the importance of international law and principles applicable in this sphere.
The ministers expressed happiness over the performance of UN Open-Ended Working Group and that of the Group of Governmental Experts. They also acknowledged the proposal by Russia on a BRICS intergovernmental agreement on cooperation for ensuring security in the use of ICTs. Similarly, the Brazilian initiative towards bilateral agreements among BRICS members was also part of the discussion. Concern was also expressed over the rising level and complexity of criminal misuse of ICTs and its prevention. So, a possible legal framework, including the need to elaborate a comprehensive international convention to put a check on the misuse of ICTs was discussed.
Drug control The fourth meeting of the BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group was welcomed and the importance of more cooperation was acknowledged. All the members committed to the three-drug control conventions.
Corruption The participants committed to promote international anti-corruption cooperation and strengthening BRICS collaboration on anti-corruption law enforcement. They noted the Russian initiative on the roadmap on the organisation of BRICS work on development within the UN framework of a universal international legal framework on illicit asset recovery.
Role of WTO The members acknowledged the Joint Statement by BRICS Trade Ministers on Multilateral Trading System and the WTO Reform on July 23 and reiterated their support for a transparent, open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory rules-based multilateral trading system, and stressed the central role of the WTO for international trade. They stressed the urgency of ensuring the restoration and preservation of the normal functioning of the WTO Dispute Settlement System, and stressed on adopting trade facilitation measures to promote trade relations among BRICS countries.
Courtesy: India Today