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![BRICS played a major role in finding a political solution for the Syrian crisis [GCIS]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/brics.jpg)
BRICS played a major role in finding a political solution for the Syrian crisis [GCIS]
A spokesperson of the South African Foreign Ministry on Friday said that the BRICS group of emerging economies has also discussed “military cooperation” during a recent BRICS studies meet.
“A recent meeting of Russia’s National Committee for BRICS Studies explored “military and political cooperation” within BRICS,” said Clayson Monyela.
Moscow recently hosted a presentation dedicated to the second anniversary of the National Committee for BRICS Studies.
“Although there are no small number of problems among this group of five countries and the coordination and adoption of joint decisions is no simple matter, nonetheless, an ever increasing number of state want to join the organization.”said Vyacheslav Nikonov, the Chairman of the Committee.
“No military or political cooperation was envisaged before the Syrian situation but it cannot be ruled out now,” Nikonov added.
The BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later this month will discuss pressing global political issues, said Vadim Lukov Russia’s Ministry Coordinator for G20 and BRICS affairs during the Moscow meet.
Monyela said on Friday that the BRICS played a major role in finding a political solution for the Syrian crisis, as the five members repeatedly stressed they are against a military strike and would rather work through the UN.
“The unified position of BRICS and its partners has played an important role in the search for a peaceful settlement of the Syrian conflict,” the South African spokesperson said on Friday.
Leaders of the BRICS had also expressed concern during talks at a Group of 20 summit that a military strike on Syria could hurt the world economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said.
“It was noted within BRICS dialogue that among the factors that could negatively affect the global economic situation are the consequences of the eventual foreign intervention into Syrian affairs. Such consequences can have an extremely negative effect on global economy,” Dmitry Peskov said in St. Petersburg.
Georgy Toloraya, Executive Director of the National Committee on BRICS Studies, says although BRICS “probably won’t ever become a military-political alliance like NATO simply because it was founded on much different principles” a political role for the group is inevitable.
“Merely viewing BRICS as an economic grouping undercuts not only the options this international partnership has at its disposal, but also the potential role it will have in future global politics,” Toloraya told The BRICS Post.
Monyela also revealed on Friday that the “historic ICT infrastructure project…an “independent internet cable “or the BRICS Cable is soon to be launched.
“The BRICS cable from Vladivostock, Russia to China to India to Cape Town to Brazil, is in its final phase of implementation,” he said.
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa currently use hubs in Europe and the US to connect to one another, which translates into higher costs and leaves open the opportunity for data interception and theft.
The new cable, comprising 2-fibre pair 12.8 Terabit per-second capacity Fibre optic cable system is BRICS’s greatest strategic investment for member countries and is expected to enhance technology sharing, boost trade and facilitate financial transactions.
BRICS came together at the Durban summit in creating a number of new institutions and initiatives including the BRICS Bank, the BRICS Business Council and the $100 billion Contingency Reserve Arrangement.
Claude Colart for The BRICS Post
