By Sarwar Kashani,IANS,
Sanya (China) : Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) – the five big emerging economies – Thursday regretted the use of force in the Arab world but refrained at the same time from explicitly calling for an end to the NATO-led air strikes on Libya, an indication of lack of consensus on the issue.
But they were concerned over the global uncertainty following developments in West Asia and North Africa and agreed to coordinate their viewpoints on global political issues.
Expressing deep concern over the mass unrest in the Middle East, North Africa and West Africa, the BRICS leaders said in a joint statement “the use of force should be avoided”.
“We maintain that the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of each nation should be respected,” they said in the statement, issued after the 3rd summit of the bloc in the coastal city of Sanya in China’s Hainan island.
The situation in Libya and the UN-imposed no-fly zone that led to NATO air strikes in the North African country were among the issues deliberated upon by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, presidents Hu Jintao of China, Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, Dmitry Medvedev of Russia and Jacob Zuma of South Africa.
China, Russia, India and Brazil have earlier condemned the air strikes on Libyan forces to end Muammar Gaddafi’s 41-year rule. They abstained from the March 17 voting authorising the air strikes. China and Russia, with their veto power as permanent members of the UN Security Council, could have stopped the strikes.
South Africa, a new entrant to the grouping, was the only BRICS country that voted for the resolution.
But President Zuma called for a halt to the NATO campaign when he toured Tripoli Sunday.
The joint statement said: “We are deeply concerned with the turbulence … and sincerely wish the countries affected achieve peace, stability, prosperity and progress and enjoy their due standing and dignity in the world, according to the legitimate aspirations of their peoples.”
But the five countries didn’t specifically call for an end to NATO strikes and expressed their “wish to continue our cooperation in the UN Security Council on Libya”.
“We are of the view that all the parties should resolve their differences through peaceful means and dialogue in which the UN and regional organizations should as appropriate play their role.”
The statement said they supported the African Union’s mediating initiative to end hostilities in Libya.
The BRICS countries wield a growing political and economic clout as they together represent more than 40 percent of the world’s population and 20 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The fastest emerging economies are projected to contribute 48 percent to the global economy in the next decade.
They coincidentally are now members of the UN Security Council with China and Russia being permanent and the other three countries, including India, non-permanent members.
The leaders also sounded somewhat muted over the issue when they addressed a joint press conference.
Manmohan Singh said: “The developments in West Asia and North Africa, and the aftermath of the huge tragedy that befell Japan, have introduced fresh uncertainties in the global recovery process.”
President Hu did not mention Libya in his comments to journalists. They also didn’t allow the question in what was supposed to be a joint press conference.
Earlier, addressing the plenary of the summit, Manmohan Singh asked the fellow leaders to “join hands in ensuring a peaceful and orderly transformation of the world order that reflects contemporary and emerging realities”.
“This should be the case whether it is the reform of political and security governance structures in the United Nations or the international financial, monetary or trade system,” he said.
Calling for comprehensive UN reforms, China and Russia joined other BRICS members in supporting the aspirations of India, Brazil and South Africa for a permanent place in the Security Council.
“We express our strong commitment to multilateral diplomacy with the United Nations playing the central role in dealing with global challenges and threats,” they said in the joint statement.
“China and Russia reiterate the importance they attach to the status of India, Brazil and South Africa in international affairs, and understand and support their aspiration to play a greater role in the UN,” the statement said.