KAZAN, 24 October (BelTA) – BRICS needs to work hard and act faster. Otherwise, the West will win. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper on the sidelines of a BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan, BelTA has learned.
The head of state noted that the process of formation of a multipolar world is already an objective thing that is independent from anyone’s desires. In this situation many countries are thinking about where they should lean to, whom they should be allies with and cooperate with, including regional or global associations.
As for BRICS, Aleksandr Lukashenko believes it is important for the association to avoid slow making of decisions on key matters. If it happens, then the founding states should step up and nudge the process. “We have five founding states. Heads of the founding states should get down to resolving the issue, organizing the relevant group, identifying the key, common matters. Such as a payment system, trade via cryptocurrencies, national currencies and so on. Logistics is very important for trade and other matters. They need to identify such issues and suggest ways to resolve them. By getting us involved, someone else, and so on. Whoever they deem necessary,” the Belarusian leader offered an action scheme.
“But if we declare that we will create [a new alternative payment system in this case], then be so kind and develop your concept. When many states start seeking cooperation partners, ways to live on, then BRICS can make its own tangible contribution. But it is necessary to work hard. Stopping is not a good idea. I often say: if we stop, then those, who walk behind us, will trample us. It is also dangerous because if we don’t realize our concepts, if we don’t satisfy expectations of other states, then the collective West will win and will simply laugh at us. And then [developing] a global organization or declaring the intention to create a global organization would be very complicated,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
As for Belarus, the president stressed that the BRICS organization is an organization the country desires. “We will work with them. We will make our own contribution to the resolution of common issues that face us,” he said. “BRICS is the countries that are very close to us: Russia, China, Emirates, and many other ones. I would like to get the same level of relations with India. We are working to establish it. These are our kind of people and we should cooperate with them.”
At the same time the head of state believes that it is necessary to highlight and discuss common concerns in BRICS. It is already happening. For instance, the conflict in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East were in the center of attention during the summit. Yet speeches of leaders still contain many private problems and issues, the Belarusian leader stated.
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