BRICS nations call for comprehensive UN reforms

ANKARA

The five-member BRICS member states that represent more than 40% of the global population, have called for comprehensive reforms in the UN and more so in the UN Security Council.

In a declaration issued at the end of their summit meeting in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil from Nov 13-14, the member countries also criticized global protectionism and unilateralism.

The association of five major emerging national economies, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa that forms BRICS asked for making the UN Security Council more representative and efficient to the needs of developing countries.

These countries reportedly have a combined nominal GDP of $18.6 trillion, about 23.2% of the gross world product.

Calling for reforms in the multilateral system including the UN, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), BRICS said greater participation of emerging markets and developing countries in international decision-making is imperative.

“We remain committed to multilateralism, cooperation of sovereign States to maintain peace and security, advance sustainable development and ensure the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and build a brighter shared future for the international community,” the declaration said.

The statement comes amid a trade war between U.S. and China on tariffs and its impact on global economy that faces recession.

The declaration also urged for a strong, quota-based and adequately resourced IMF at the center of the global financial safety net.

“We call upon the IMF to start work on quota and governance reform on the basis of the principles agreed in 2010,” it said.

“We reiterate the fundamental importance of a rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open, free and inclusive international trade. We remain committed to preserving and strengthening the multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its center. It is critical that all WTO members avoid unilateral and protectionist measures, which run counter to the spirit and rules of the WTO,” the document added.

The declaration also reiterated the commitment of its member countries to "the implementation of the Paris Agreement adopted under the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)".

They reaffirmed support for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and to the preservation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) as an "effective disarmament and non-proliferation instrument" at a time when the arms race of major global powers continue at full speed even at the outer space.

The next BRICS summit in 2020 is to be hosted by Russia in the city of St. Petersburg.