BRICS adopts Goa Declaration, focus on combating terrorism

A declaration adopted at the annual summit of grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) has called upon all nations to adopt a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, violent extremism, radicalisation, recruitment, movement of terrorists, including foreign terrorists and blocking sources of financing terrorism.

(L-R) Brazilian President Michel Temer, Russain President Vladmir Puti, PM Narendra Mod, Chinese president XI Jinping and S African Jacob Zuma

The powerful five-nation grouping of BRICS on Sunday asked all countries to prevent "terrorist actions" from their territories and called for expeditious adoption of an India-backed global convention by the UN to fight the menace effectively.

"We call upon all nations to work together to expedite the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in the UN General Assembly without any further delay," the Goa declaration issued at the end of the Summit said. It also asked the countries to adopt a "holistic" approach in successfully combating terrorism.

Earlier, addressing the delegates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for decisive action to deal with terrorism and described Pakistan as a mothership of global terrorism. BRICS also called for dismantling of terror-like organised crime that uses money-laundering, drug trafficking, criminal activities, and also called for dismantling of terrorist bases, and countering misuse of the internet, including through social media.

"Successfully combating terrorism requires a holistic approach. All counter-terrorism measures should uphold international law and respect human rights," the declaration said.

Stressing UN's central role in coordinating multilateral approaches against terrorism, the BRICS urged all nations to undertake effective implementation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and reaffirmed its commitment on increasing the effectiveness of the UN counter terrorism framework.

In the declaration, the BRICS said it reaffirmed commitment to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) international standards on combating money laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation.

The FATF is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering. In 2001 the purpose expanded to act on terrorism financing. It also called for swift, effective and universal implementation of FATF on combating terrorist financing, including effective implementation of its operational plan.

The grouping, which represents an influential voice on the global stage agreed on tangible cooperation on order to deliver direct benefits to its people. In this context, BRICS noted the operationalisation of the New Development Bank (NDB) and of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), which has already started contributing to the global economy and the strengthening of the international financial architecture.

The NDB approved the first set of loans, particularly in the renewable energy projects in BRICS countries. NDB also issued the first set of green bonds in RMB.

BRICS also announced the the progress in operationalising the Africa Regional Centre (ARC) of the NDB and pledged full support in this regard. Alongside, BRICS also operationalised the Contingent Reserve Arrangements (CRA), which, it said,has strengthened the global financial safety net.

The nations also decided to to increase engagement with fellow developing and emerging economies. Accordingly, it was decided to hold an `OutreachSummit of BRICS leaders' with the leaders of BIMSTEC member countries - Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation comprising of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The meeting will be an opportunity to renew our friendship with BIMSTEC countries as well as to jointly explore possibilities of expanding trade and commercial ties,and investment cooperation between BRICS and BIMSTEC countries,while advancing our common goals of peace, development, democracy and prosperity, says the declaration.

''We reiterate our common vision of ongoing profound shifts in the world as it transitions to a more just, democratic, and multi-polar international order based on the central role of the United Nations, and respect for international law. We reaffirm the need for strengthening coordination of efforts on global issues and practical cooperation in the spirit of solidarity, mutual understanding and trust.

''We underline the importance of collective efforts in solving international problems, and for peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and in this regard, we reiterate our commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,'' it added.