By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Foreign Affair Ministers of the five-nation grouping BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) in a joint statement condemned the use of unilateral coercive measures producing negative effects in the developing world while they expressed concerns over the Russia-Ukraine War and conflict in Sudan.
The statement came after the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations met on Thursday in Cape Town, to exchange views on major global and regional trends and issues while reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the framework of BRICS cooperation under the three pillars of political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation.
The Ministers reiterated their commitment to enhancing and improving global governance by promoting a more agile, effective, efficient, representative, and accountable international and multilateral system.
The Ministers recalled their national positions concerning the situation in and around Ukraine “as expressed at the appropriate fora, including the UNSC and UNGA.” “They noted with appreciation relevant proposals of mediation and good offices aimed at peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement read.
“They called for the full and effective implementation of both the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the Secretariat of the United Nations on promoting Russian food products and fertilisers to the world markets and stress the importance of allowing grains and fertilisers to continue to reach those most in need,” it added.
The Ministers also acknowledged the impact on the world economy from unilateral approaches in breach of international law and they also that the situation is complicated further by unilateral economic coercive measures, such as sanctions, boycotts, embargoes, and blockades.
The gathering is a precursor of the BRICS Summit to be held in August in Johannesburg.
In addition, the Ministers expressed concern about the outbreak of violence in Sudan.
“They urged the immediate cessation of hostilities and they called for the unimpeded access of the Sudanese population to humanitarian assistance.”
They welcomed the efforts of the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority for Development, the League of Arab States, the UN and its Security Council in seeking solutions for the ongoing crisis.
According to the statement, the Ministers further welcomed the support rendered by various countries, international organisations and agencies in the evacuation of foreign citizens from Sudan.
The Ministers expressed serious concern over continued conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and endorsed the joint statement by BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys at their meeting in April.