BRICS reflects the member-countries' commitment to uphold international law when some Western countries are trying to promote unilateral approaches, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
And cooperation within BRICS — which clubs Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — was already yielding practical results, Putin told IANS and Sputnik news agencies in an interview ahead of his visit to Goa to attend the BRICS Summit. Putin described BRICS as one of the key elements of the emerging multipolar world.
"The five (member) countries have consistently reaffirmed their commitment to the fundamental principles of international law and promote the central role of the UN," he said in response to questions from IANS.
"Our countries reject the policy of coercive pressure and infringement upon the sovereignty of other states. We take similar stances on urgent international issues, including the Syrian crisis and the Middle East settlement."
The Russian leader said the BRICS summits' final declarations reaffirm "our shared commitment to the fundamental principles of inter-state communication, particularly, to the observance of international law with the central coordinating role of the UN.
"With some Western countries attempting to promote their unilateral approaches, this position becomes even more relevant," Putin said, adding that the Goa Summit would be no exception to this rule.