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Russia to present concept of its participation in BRICS shortly – official

The upcoming summit will promote the idea to set up an international BRICS bank

MOSCOW, March 19 (Itar-Tass) – Russia will present a concept of its participation in the BRICS group shortly, chairman of the committee for international affairs under the Federation Council upper house of the Russian parliament Mikhail Margelov said on Tuesday.

The program of /Russian President Vladimir/ Putin's participation in the BRICS summit has already been announced in Durban. "The work on the program is continuing. It's premature to talk about details," Margelov told a news conference ahead of Putin’s' visit to Durban, South Africa, which will host the BRICS summit on March 26–27.

"We'll see the president's finalized program in Durban on March 26," he added.

The FC member underlined that the president’s upcoming trip to South Africa would be a historic visit to the African continent.

Commenting on the themes to be discussed during the summit, Margelov noted that "the Syrian issue" would be considered. "There will be a discussion. For the BRICS states, the scenarios of interference in Syria's internal affairs are absolutely inadmissible. The general vector of discussion will be based upon the principle that only the Syrians can resolve their problems, and that international community members can only help."

The upcoming summit will promote the idea to set up an international BRICS bank, but the issue is unlikely to be finalized this time.

The situation in Afghanistan and Iranian nuclear program issues will also be on the agenda, Margelov added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit South Africa on March 26. He will attend the 5th BRICS summit in Durban on March 26-27, the Kremlin press service said.

The first summit of the organization was held in Yekaterinburg in 2009 at Russia's initiatve.

"During the upcoming meeting, the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will discuss the key problems of the world economy, international and regional security, and the ways to reform the global governance system. Special attention will be paid to the opportunities to develop economic cooperation between BRICS partners," the Kremlin said.

The BRICS leaders will meet with officials from the African Union, the New Partnership for Africa's Development, and sub regional integration associations operating on the continent.

The BRICS leaders are expected to launch a BRICS Business Council. The idea to create this mechanism was tabled by Russia during the meeting of the BRICS leaders in the town of Sanya, China, in 2011, the Kremlin press service said.

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