DURBAN: Moving beyond economics, the 5th BRICS countries in Durban has taken a collective stand on mitigating 
the grouping of emerging economies also warned the West against military adventurism in Iran, an assertive stance that marks the emergence of an alternative BRICS narrative on pressing international issues.unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Syria and underlined the need for a Syrian-led national dialogue to achieve lasting peace in the West Asian nation.
In a move freighted with symbolism, the leaders of BRICS countries have sent a powerful message across that the Syrian impasse can’t be resolved through a Western prism and enunciated an alternative view that position suffering of the Syrian people at the heart of any lasting resolution.
The alarming humanitarian tragedy in Syria, which has been aggravated by cynical power games of the West and its allies in the Middle East, figured prominently in discussions between the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa at the 5th BRICS summit in the South African city of Durban March 27.
In the restricted meeting between the BRICS leaders ahead of the plenary, there were animated discussions and even some dissonance of perspectives on resolving the Syrian crisis. Finally, in the emerging spirit of the BRICS solidarity on international issues, the BRICS leaders managed to find a common ground that took note of the sharply deteriorating humanitarian situation and called for advancing a Syrian-led national reconciliation process.
“We express our deep concern with the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Syria and condemn the increasing violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law as a result of continued violence,” said the eThekwini Declaration that was issued at the end of the first BRICS summit held on the African soil.
“We believe that the Joint Communiqué of the Geneva Action Group provides a basis for resolution of the Syrian crisis and reaffirm our opposition to any further militarization of the conflict,” the declaration said.
Against the backdrop of the West-driven agenda of regime change in Syria, the BRICS leaders positioned the grouping as the voice of moderation and consensus-building.
“A Syrian-led political process leading to a transition can be achieved only through broad national dialogue that meets the legitimate aspirations of all sections of Syrian society and respect for Syrian independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty as expressed by the Geneva Joint Communiqué and appropriate UNSC resolutions,” said the declaration.
“We support the efforts of the UN-League of Arab States Joint Special Representative,” said the declaration.
What stood out in the BRICS’ position was concern for suffering and deprivation of the Syrian people inflicted by mindless bloodletting and power struggles in the West Asian nation. It needs underlining that the humanitarian dimension to the Syrian problem has been swamped by partisan politics and cynical power games that has made Syria a staging ground for competing rivalries and ambitions.
“In view of the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria, we call upon all parties to allow and facilitate immediate, safe, full and unimpeded access to humanitarian organisations to all in need of assistance. We urge all parties to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers,”
The BRICS’ appeal on Syria should not be ignored by the West, which is suspected to be acting in concert with its powerful allies in the Arab world to fast-track regime change in West. In fact, the situation is so alarming that nothing short of an immediate cessation of violence and immediate access to humanitarian aid in rebel-held areas will help. According to conservative estimates, more than four million Syrians are in dire need of humanitarian assistance and three million have been internally displaced since the so-called pro-democracy uprising started more than two years ago.
Ahead of the BRICS summit, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad had sent his special envoy to the capitals of all BRICS countries to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
In a clear warning to the West, leaders from emerging powers also voiced their opposition to threat of military action against Tehran, amid ominous noises emanating from the US and Israel that they will not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. “We are concerned about threats of military action as well as unilateral sanctions,” the BRICS leaders said at the end of a two-day summit.
“We are concerned about threats of military action as well as unilateral sanctions. We note the recent talks held in Almaty and hope that all outstanding issues relating to Iran’s nuclear programme will be resolved through discussions and diplomatic means,” said the declaration.
The sharp stand taken by BRICS on the situation in Syria and the Iranian nuclear programme underlines the transformation of a grouping that started off as a forum focused on mitigating the global financial slowdown, but has emerged as a powerful pressure group in international politics that advocates multipolarity in international relations and multilateralism in resolving global peace and security issues.
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- Manish Chand is Founder-CEO and Editor-in-Chief of India Writes Network (www.indiawrites.org) and India and World, a pioneering magazine focused on international affairs. He is CEO/Director of TGII Media Private Limited, an India-based media, publishing, research and consultancy company.
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