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Without a participation of Russia in the Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace summit it will be not possible to achieve real peacekeeping goals, South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Naledi Pandor claimed in an interview to Russian media on the sidelines of BRICS Ministerial Council meeting in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday.
"Our own advice was that it may be better to have a meeting at the officials' level between Russia and Ukraine and then subsequent to that move on to a bigger conference. But before deliberations between the two, even if it's at inception stage, we felt this wasn't really a good step to take because it will be theatre rather than a real focus on achieving a cessation or indeed a proper peace and negotiation," Pandor said.
The diplomat added that if one side is absent, it is just 'an exercise in futility' and it is needed to use paths that lead out of the 'conundrum that exists currently’.
Pandor also shared the goals of BRICS and noted that more countries ‘showed interest’ to become a part of the organisation.
"We want to modernise the global governance system to be more democratic, more representative. And if you share those ideals, then BRICS is your home, It's where you should be. And we're thrilled that beyond the number we have now, there are many more countries showing an interest in becoming full members of BRICS and others that would like to be partner members who may participate in some of our activitiesl," the politician noted.
Pandor added that in the months ahead member states are going to understand each other far better than now.
The BRICS Ministerial Council meeting is held in Nizhny Novgorod on June 10-11. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry's press service, the participants will consider the prospects of multifaceted cooperation in the year of Russia's presidency in the association in three main areas: politics and security, economy and finance, and humanitarian ties.
It is also reported that an extended session will be held with the participation of foreign ministers of the SCO, ASEAN, the Association for Regional Cooperation of Indian Ocean Coastal Countries, the African Union, the League of Arab States and other organisations.
Since January 1, 2024, Russia has held the BRICS chairmanship. Since the beginning of the year, five countries have become full members of the organization: Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia.
A peace conference on the Ukrainian conflict is to take place on June 15-16 in the Swiss city of Burgenstock. Moscow has rejected the idea of such a forum held without its participation.
Ukrainian presidential spokesperson Serhiy Nikiforov has claimed that 107 countries and international organisations have confirmed their participation, including Ukraine's Western allies and countries in South America, Africa and the Middle East.
On June 3, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China decided not to participate in a peace summit on Ukraine in Switzerland because, she said, the crisis needed Russia's presence for it to be resolved, among other issues. US President Joe Biden has not confirmed his participation, while Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Pakistan are among those who have stated that they will not take part at all.
'It will be theatre' - South African FM Pandor on Swiss conference without Russia
Without a participation of Russia in the Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace summit it will be not possible to achieve real peacekeeping goals, South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Naledi Pandor claimed in an interview to Russian media on the sidelines of BRICS Ministerial Council meeting in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday.
"Our own advice was that it may be better to have a meeting at the officials' level between Russia and Ukraine and then subsequent to that move on to a bigger conference. But before deliberations between the two, even if it's at inception stage, we felt this wasn't really a good step to take because it will be theatre rather than a real focus on achieving a cessation or indeed a proper peace and negotiation," Pandor said.
The diplomat added that if one side is absent, it is just 'an exercise in futility' and it is needed to use paths that lead out of the 'conundrum that exists currently’.
Pandor also shared the goals of BRICS and noted that more countries ‘showed interest’ to become a part of the organisation.
"We want to modernise the global governance system to be more democratic, more representative. And if you share those ideals, then BRICS is your home, It's where you should be. And we're thrilled that beyond the number we have now, there are many more countries showing an interest in becoming full members of BRICS and others that would like to be partner members who may participate in some of our activitiesl," the politician noted.
Pandor added that in the months ahead member states are going to understand each other far better than now.
The BRICS Ministerial Council meeting is held in Nizhny Novgorod on June 10-11. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry's press service, the participants will consider the prospects of multifaceted cooperation in the year of Russia's presidency in the association in three main areas: politics and security, economy and finance, and humanitarian ties.
It is also reported that an extended session will be held with the participation of foreign ministers of the SCO, ASEAN, the Association for Regional Cooperation of Indian Ocean Coastal Countries, the African Union, the League of Arab States and other organisations.
Since January 1, 2024, Russia has held the BRICS chairmanship. Since the beginning of the year, five countries have become full members of the organization: Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia.
A peace conference on the Ukrainian conflict is to take place on June 15-16 in the Swiss city of Burgenstock. Moscow has rejected the idea of such a forum held without its participation.
Ukrainian presidential spokesperson Serhiy Nikiforov has claimed that 107 countries and international organisations have confirmed their participation, including Ukraine's Western allies and countries in South America, Africa and the Middle East.
On June 3, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China decided not to participate in a peace summit on Ukraine in Switzerland because, she said, the crisis needed Russia's presence for it to be resolved, among other issues. US President Joe Biden has not confirmed his participation, while Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Pakistan are among those who have stated that they will not take part at all.
No access EU media/EU territory. For further info please contact Client Service
Without a participation of Russia in the Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace summit it will be not possible to achieve real peacekeeping goals, South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Naledi Pandor claimed in an interview to Russian media on the sidelines of BRICS Ministerial Council meeting in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday.
"Our own advice was that it may be better to have a meeting at the officials' level between Russia and Ukraine and then subsequent to that move on to a bigger conference. But before deliberations between the two, even if it's at inception stage, we felt this wasn't really a good step to take because it will be theatre rather than a real focus on achieving a cessation or indeed a proper peace and negotiation," Pandor said.
The diplomat added that if one side is absent, it is just 'an exercise in futility' and it is needed to use paths that lead out of the 'conundrum that exists currently’.
Pandor also shared the goals of BRICS and noted that more countries ‘showed interest’ to become a part of the organisation.
"We want to modernise the global governance system to be more democratic, more representative. And if you share those ideals, then BRICS is your home, It's where you should be. And we're thrilled that beyond the number we have now, there are many more countries showing an interest in becoming full members of BRICS and others that would like to be partner members who may participate in some of our activitiesl," the politician noted.
Pandor added that in the months ahead member states are going to understand each other far better than now.
The BRICS Ministerial Council meeting is held in Nizhny Novgorod on June 10-11. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry's press service, the participants will consider the prospects of multifaceted cooperation in the year of Russia's presidency in the association in three main areas: politics and security, economy and finance, and humanitarian ties.
It is also reported that an extended session will be held with the participation of foreign ministers of the SCO, ASEAN, the Association for Regional Cooperation of Indian Ocean Coastal Countries, the African Union, the League of Arab States and other organisations.
Since January 1, 2024, Russia has held the BRICS chairmanship. Since the beginning of the year, five countries have become full members of the organization: Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia.
A peace conference on the Ukrainian conflict is to take place on June 15-16 in the Swiss city of Burgenstock. Moscow has rejected the idea of such a forum held without its participation.
Ukrainian presidential spokesperson Serhiy Nikiforov has claimed that 107 countries and international organisations have confirmed their participation, including Ukraine's Western allies and countries in South America, Africa and the Middle East.
On June 3, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China decided not to participate in a peace summit on Ukraine in Switzerland because, she said, the crisis needed Russia's presence for it to be resolved, among other issues. US President Joe Biden has not confirmed his participation, while Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Pakistan are among those who have stated that they will not take part at all.