The Federation Council Speaker’s remarks at the 6th BRICS Parliamentary Forum
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko addressed the 6th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, which was held via videoconference under the theme BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth: Parliamentary Dimension.
The event was attended by State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, members of the Federation Council and the State Duma, as well as speakers, chairs and members of parliament from Brazil, India, China and South Africa.
President Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to the forum participants.
“The coronavirus pandemic has become an endurance test for national health systems as well as many other sectors. The national states and the international community as a whole have been subjected to this test,” Valentina Matvienko pointed out. “The pandemic has created problems in global trade and industrial production, disrupted deliveries and affected economic and humanitarian ties. You would think that all countries would have demonstrated more solidarity in this situation, joining forces to respond to new challenges. Instead, we are witnessing a Cold War throwback, with unilateral changes in preferential cooperation terms, artificial obstacles to mutual trade and illegal sanctions adopted without UN approval.”
Security threats are a special concern, Valentina Matvienko noted. “We see the escalation of regional conflicts and the exacerbation of territorial claims and border disputes. The United States’ withdrawal from the INF Treaty was an extremely dangerous step. The non-extension of the New START treaty, which will expire in February 2021, is a distinct possibility. These ill-considered moves could ruin the global system of strategic stability and security.”
There are many problems on the global stage, the Federation Council Speaker pointed out. She was convinced that the only way that global stability and security could be ensured was through international cooperation based on mutual respect, trust and transparency. “It is particularly relevant to speak about this in the year of the 75th anniversary of Victory in World War II. We attained that victory exclusively thanks to the selfless unity and combined efforts of all nations against the evil of Nazism. An important legacy of that victory was the establishment of the UN.”
The cooperation within the framework of BRICS is a modern example of solidarity, mutual assistance and constructive dialogue, Valentina Matvienko emphasised. “Our countries have accumulated a wealth of experience, which we can use to counter elements of national egoism. In particular, we are finalising the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership for the period to 2025. We have coordinated a draft BRICS Counterterrorism Strategy. The principled position of solidary of the five BRICS countries is also of great significance for stronger international cooperation,” she said.
Russia was the first country in the world to register two coronavirus vaccines and has provided coronavirus response assistance to 40 countries.
The Federation Council Speaker mentioned the initiatives advanced by President Vladimir Putin, including the idea of green corridors free from trade wars and sanctions, as well as arranging a high-level conference of the countries that are interested in joining efforts to create coronavirus vaccines. “Russia was the first country in the world to create and register two coronavirus vaccines. We have also provided coronavirus response assistance to over 40 countries. We are aware that our BRICS partners are implementing such projects as well,” she pointed out.
According to Valentina Matvienko, Russian initiatives for creating a comprehensive early warning system for infectious disease outbreaks and signing a five-party memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the legal regulation of medical products could contribute to the fight against pandemics. “In addition, we propose creating a BRICS task group on sustainable economic development in the post-pandemic period,” she added.
The additional initiatives on investment cooperation and the development of remote and rural areas acquired special importance in the context of the coronavirus infection, the Federation Council Speaker pointed out. “An effective mechanism in this field is the BRICS New Development Bank. It has opened new loan facilities worth about $10 billion to deal with the consequences of the pandemic,” she noted.
Of course, the five countries’ efforts to strengthen their security and to enhance economic growth need legislative support, Valentina Matvienko pointed out. “Our parliaments should promptly provide a legislative framework for the executive authorities’ decisions in healthcare and for their anti-crisis economic, financial and fiscal measures. We can exchange our rich experience in these fields. Another important sphere of interaction is the pooling of efforts to improve people’s living standards and the quality of life.”
The introduction of new technologies is playing a huge role in modern conditions, the Federation Council Speaker emphasised. She proposed expanding cooperation between the BRICS parliaments and their expert councils with a view to creating a legal framework for digital transformation.
One more vital objective is to strengthen the youth dialogue. “The younger generation in our countries will soon take over the baton of cooperation from us. In this connection, I welcome the BRICS forums of young MPs as a very timely measure. I hope that this format will gain momentum, helping us to promote a unification agenda and to build networking activities among our young MPs,” she said.
Increasing women’s involvement in the economy and community life is a major priority as well, Valentina Matvienko noted. “A fresh impetus to this process should be given by the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance.”
The idea of the alliance was put forth at the First International Congress of Women of the SCO and BRICS countries held in Novosibirsk in 2017 and supported at the BRICS Summit held in Brazil in 2019, the Federation Council Speaker recalled. “We believe that only international cooperation based on respect, trust and transparency can ensure global stability and security. The declaration on the establishment of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance will be adopted before the upcoming BRICS Summit.”
According to Valentina Matvienko, a positive example of a multilateral dialogue between female MPs is the Eurasian Women’s Forum, which will be held in St Petersburg, Russia for the third time in September 2021. “The demand for parliamentary diplomacy is growing in line with the coordination of our countries’ foreign policy approaches to acute international situations. We can take a solidary stand in support of the central role of the UN, the goals and principles of the UN Charter, a stronger collective approach to international affairs and the settlement of conflicts exclusively by peaceful political and diplomatic methods. We can also direct our efforts at countering some countries’ policies which are aimed at maintaining their own domination to the detriment of the sustainable economic growth of the developing countries,” she pointed out.
Valentina Matvienko said she believed that the BRICS activities were a key factor in the development of a multipolar world. “Our voice can have a strong influence on the global agenda. Of great importance in this respect is the assistance we receive from our partners in the parliaments of states that are interested in promoting cooperation within the framework of BRICS+ and BRICS Outreach. However, we must keep moving on, looking for new forms of interaction. I believe that there is great potential in creating a structured basis for our ties. We could adopt joint thematic statements on current issues of international interparliamentary cooperation.”
In light of the general commitment to building up interregional ties, the Federation Council Speaker proposed creating a joint discussion platform for BRICS, the SCO and the EAEU. “This could greatly contribute to stronger global cooperation. We should also coordinate the five countries’ positions on multilateral venues such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union,” he said.
Although the five BRICS countries come from different parts of the world and represent different civilisations and different languages, they are united by an atmosphere of friendship and good-neighbourliness and a culture of tolerance and mutual respect, Valentina Matvienko noted. “The Federation Council has proposed holding an International Conference on Inter-Ethnic and Inter-Religious Dialogue together with the UN and the IPU. This event will be attended by heads of state and government, members of parliament and representatives of global religions. Scheduled to take place on 21 May 2022, it has been timed for the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, established by the UN General Assembly, and the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013 ̵ 2022), proclaimed by UNESCO.
The Federation Council Speaker urged BRICS MPs to contribute to the preparation of this international event. “I am sure that the concerted efforts of the five countries’ MPs will provide a shining example of really effective cooperation to the benefit of our countries and the world as a whole,” Valentina Matvienko said in conclusion of her address.