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Indonesia will be first among candidates in case of BRICS expansion — expert

From BRICS National Research Committee executive director's point of view, BRICS is a union of civilizations, and only an Islamic civilization is missing

© AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim

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Russia hopes to turn BRICS into full-fledged mechanism of collaboration

MOSCOW, July 1. /TASS/. The BRICS association comprising of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will not likely be expanded soon, but Indonesia has good prospects to become a member in the future, BRICS National Research Committee executive director Georgy Toloraya told a press conference on Wednesday.

"From my point of view, BRICS is not just an association of countries, it is rather a union of civilizations, and only an Islamic civilization is missing," Toloraya said. "So, if we are expanding BRICS, than Indonesia is a candidate in terms of territory, resources and population. A religious factor is also playing its role," he added.

However, the expert noted that no decision was made yet on expanding BRICS. "The group is very young, and its expansion can lead to the situation in which the whole structure will just begin to fall apart, because there are quite a few disagreements between the countries. However, sooner or later, the issue of expansion will arise, and then Indonesia will be the first among candidates for joining," he said.

Toloraya stressed that it is necessary to introduce a mechanism of observers and dialogue partners before accepting new full-fledged members.

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