28.10.2024, Belgrade.
The success of the BRICS summit in Kazan, which was attended by representatives of more than 40 countries, shows that Western attempts to isolate Russia and intimidate China have failed, said Aleksandar Vulin, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, on October 28 on Serbian Radio and Television.
“I was surrounded by friends. Within BRICS, Serbia is one of the closest partners. More than 40 countries were present at the summit. This shows that attempts to isolate Russia or intimidate China are pointless. And it is naive to believe that it is possible to force Serbia to change its choice of friends,” Vulin noted in his speech.
“BRICS is an association of free countries and peoples, which is different from other organizations. Unlike the EU, it is not based on narrow guidelines; instead, it shares common values. If we are offered such a market and open cooperation, we would be wrong not to consider all the possibilities,” Serbian Deputy Prime Minister noted.
He said that no one had imposed any conditions to Belgrade within the association. As Vulin noted, BRICS did not demand that Serbia recognize Kosovo or legalize same-sex marriages.
The 16th BRICS Summit took place in the city of Kazan on October 22-24, which became the main event of Russia’s chairmanship in the association. On the second day of the summit, the participants adopted the Kazan Declaration, reflecting the main directions of BRICS development, the countries’ positions on global issues and ways to resolve regional crises, including the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East. Vulin, the head of the Serbian delegation, gave an important speech.
The BRICS group was created in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2011. On January 1, 2024, Egypt, Iran, the UAE and Ethiopia joined the association. The first summit in Kazan was held with their participation as full members.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
