Putin discusses ISIL, global security with BRICS NSAs

The national security advisors of the five BRICS countries discussed global security threats in Moscow during a two-day meet [Image: PPIO]

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday stressed that BRICS cooperation has moved beyond economics and that security issues are an important part of the group’s agenda.

Putin met the top security officials from the five BRICS countries in Moscow on Tuesday, stating that the meeting was an “important stage of preparation for the BRICS summit in Ufa in July 2015″.

“Obviously, for our organization, for BRICS, it’s an important sphere of activity, considering the challenges the entire international community and our countries have to face at present. It’s obvious that the fight against organized crime, terrorism, financial crime is certainly on the agenda of the international community,” Putin said.

“It is also clear that our countries are facing considerable threats in connection with violation of international law norms, in connection with violation of sovereignty of different states, their activity spheres,” the Russian President added.

Russian National Security Adviser and Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Nikolai Patrushev hosted the delegates from the five BRICS countries.

“With our countries’ enormous resources and development prospects in mind, we have every reason to believe that the BRICS member-states are in a special risk zone. The developments of the past few years indicate that misinformation, artificial exacerbation of ethnic, religious and cultural differences, rather than military means, will be used to check our progress,” Patrushev said during Tuesday’s meet.

The Chinese, Indian and South African delegations are headed by State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Indian NSA Ajit Doval and South African Minister of State Security David Mahlobo.

BRICS NSAs discussed “common approaches to international security” said a Russian Security Council statement at the end of the two-day meet on Tuesday.

“The parties also shared experiences of cooperation to counter unilateral sanctions and attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign countries,” the Russian Security Council said.

The five national security advisors, on Tuesday, also discussed the rising threat of the Islamic State militants.

“We know what is happening in the Middle East, North Africa, we know the problems associated with a terrorist organization that has arrogated to itself the right to call itself Islamic State. But in the countries where it is blossoming today there was no terrorism before absolutely unacceptable outside interference had occurred, especially without UN Security Council sanctions,” Putin said at the meet.

Russia hosted a formal meeting of BRIC National Security Advisers (NSAs) in May 2009 to discuss the security implications of the global financial and economic crisis.

The second meeting of BRIC NSAs was held in Brasilia in April 2010 followed by a third in Sochi, Russia in October 2010.

Russia and China are UN Security Council’s permanent members, alongside France, the United Kingdom and the United States.

 

TBP