BRICS Leaders Speak Against Politicization of Economy, Unilateral Sanctions

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that leaders of the BRICS emerging economies hope that mediators will stick to the agreements on Syria’s political process, reached in Vienna.

ANTALYA (Sputnik) — The leaders of BRICS member states in a joint statement issued after their informal Sunday meeting raised voice against politicization of economic relations and introduction of unilateral sanctions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"It was stated that such actions are detrimental to the international economic financial system and should be stopped," Lavrov told reporters.

Also Lavrov stated that leaders of the BRICS emerging economies hope that mediators will stick to the agreements on Syria’s political process, reached in Vienna.

Speaking after an informal BRICS summit in Turkey, Lavrov confirmed that the Syrian issue was raised during talks between Brazilian, Russian, Indian, Chinese and South African leaders.

"They spoke positively of the meeting of ministers from the Syria assistance group that took place in Vienna yesterday," Lavrov told reporters. "They expressed hope that agreements on the start of the political process will be fulfilled."

Lavrov added that it was crucial for Syrian opposition to form a delegation and engage in a dialogue with Syrian authorities somewhere in January to put the country on path toward reforms that, he said, were expected to last 1.5 years.

BRICS leaders agreed at Sunday’s summit in Turkey that a unified front must be created to tackle terrorism after deadly Paris attacks, according to Russian Foreign Minister.

"All member states agreed during the talks that the recent events, including terror attacks in Paris, make it an absolute priority to put aside all bickering and preconditions and focus on creating a real universal anti-terror front," Lavrov said.

A total of 129 were killed and 352 were injured when seven terrorists attacked several sites in and around Paris. Responsibility for the attacks was claimed by the Islamic State (ISIL) militant group, operating in Syria and Iraq.

Also Lavrov stressed that the leaders of BRICS member states have called on Washington to ratify the documents on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reforming.

A particular importance is attached to the completion of the tasks of the IMF reforms’ first phase," Lavrov said.

"The decision on the reform to increase the quotas and votes of BRICS countries in IMF is being blocked due to lack of ratification by the United States. In a statement [agreed] today, the leaders of the BRICS states called to ensure that such ratification takes place, because otherwise the reputation and legitimacy of the IMF suffers," he added.