Countries supporting terrorists need to be held guilty: PM Modi at BRICS summit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 17

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sought the backing of other BRICS members for reforms in the UN Security Council and for the waiver of some Intellectual Property Regulations (IPR) norms for Covid-related development of vaccines, testing and treatment.

Speaking at the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) summit, PM Modi described the finalisation of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy as “important achievement” and assured that India will take this work forward during its Chairmanship of BRICS in 2021.

“Terrorism is the biggest problem facing today. Countries that support and help terrorism are also held guilty and we need to fight this problem in a united manner,’’ he said.

The Strategy proposes to work out common measures and more closely coordinate in the UN and other forums on counter-terrorism issues. It also seeks to implement the UN Global CT-Strategy as well as early adoption of the India-piloted Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

While seeking reforms in the UNSC besides the WTO and WHO to correspond to present day realities, PM Modi assured that India as a founding member of the UN was fully committed to multilateralism. India had lost the highest number of peacekeepers on UN duty, he reminded other BRICS members.

India as the Chair of BRICS in 2021 will intensify cooperation in digital health and traditional mission besides seeking to achieve closure on the Russian initiatives launched this year.

The PM spoke on the Atmanirbhar Bharat policy whose twin-aims of self-reliance and resilient India can be a multiplier for the global economy and contribute significantly to global value chains. “We saw this in Covid. Due to the inherent production capacity of Indian pharma, India could send medicines to 150 countries,” he said while referring to the India-South Africa proposal for certain waivers in IPR to Covid 19 vaccine treatment and testing. Interestingly, Brazil is opposed to this proposal while China is backing it.

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