Russia Calls on BRICS Nations to Take Part in Rebuilding Syria

RIO DE JANEIRO- Moscow urges all partners in the BRICS group of nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to take part in work towards post-war restoration of Syria, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a BRICS foreign ministerial session on Friday, according to Itar Tass.

“It is crucially important to support the processes of Syria’s post-conflict restoration. We urge participation in this activity and note in this connection efforts taken by our Chinese and Indian friends,” the Russian diplomat said.

The main tasks for the settlement in the Syria are restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity, extermination of the remaining terrorists, assistance in the return of refugees with an advance of the political process led by the Syrians themselves in line with Resolution 2254 of the UN Security Council, Lavrov reiterated, Tass said.

“The launch of a constitutional committee that is expected shortly will be a crucial stage on this path,” the Russian top diplomat stressed.

Russia warns of ‘large-scale’ conflict as Iran tensions rise

Lavrov also said that tensions with Iran have made the prospect of “large-scale” conflict real, calling on world countries to support a Russian security doctrine of zero extra-regional military presence in the Middle East to prevent such a scenario.

The Russian Foreign Minister used the tensions between mainly the United States and Iran to promote the Moscow-proposed doctrine of collective security in the Middle East.

 “The development of the situation [involving Iran] has reached a dangerous line, which is fraught with risks of large-scale warfare. We must do our best to prevent it,” Lavrov said.

H.M