BRICS foreign ministers urge support for political settlement in Syria

MOSCOW, September 30. /TASS/. The foreign ministers of the BRICS group of countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) have underscored the need for continuing the process of the political settlement in Syria on the basis of the Geneva communique of June 30, 2012, the Russian Foreign Ministry said after the meeting of the BRICS foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, marking the 70th anniversary of the UN and of the end of World War II. The ministers commemorated all those who had fought against Nazism and militarism for the freedom of peoples. The BRICS foreign ministers expressed concern over the continuing conflicts in a number of regions that were undermining stability and security, creating the basis for terrorist activities and triggering waves of mass migration. They pointed out that "terrorist activities by extremist organizations that control large territories in Iran and Syria posed a direct threat to the security of all countries in the Middle East and the entire international community." The participants in the meeting once again strongly condemned all forms and manifestations of terrorism and expressed the certainty that effective anti-terrorist struggle required a comprehensive approach and urged concerted efforts in resistance to terrorism on a firm international legal basis under the auspices of the United Nations. "The ministers stressed the need for further support for the process of a political settlement of the conflict in Syria on the basis of the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The BRICS foreign ministers expressed deep concern over the situation in Ukraine. They stressed the idea that the conflict had no military solution and the sole way towards reconciliation was through an inclusive political dialogue. They called upon all parties to comply with the Minsk Accords of February 2015 and observe the achieved ceasefire regime and guarantee its stability. Also, the foreign ministers welcomed Africa’s efforts to settle conflicts in the continent. BRICS believes that "the African Standby Force and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis, emerging within the framework of the pan-African edifice of peace and security have a tangible potential in the cause of maintaining peace and stability in Africa." Read more