Lavrov: Algeria main contender to join BRICS

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Feb 2023 23:42
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that once Algeria joins BRICS it will not be forced to obey instructions if they contradict its national interests, noting that the organization is non-hegemonic.

In this handout photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune attend a joint news conference following their talks at El Mouradia Palace, the official residence of the President, in Algiers, Algeria, on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)

Algeria is one of the main prospects for BRICS membership, according to a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.

Algeria presented its formal application to join the BRICS earlier in November 2022. In December, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Algerian president, expressed optimism that his country may join the alliance in 2023.

"Formal requests to join have already been received from several states... Algeria is among these countries," Lavrov said adding that "at the recent meeting of the BRICS Five, held this year under the Chinese chairmanship, we agreed on the need to develop common approaches to such requests."

According to the FM, the primary step for establishing these approaches the BRICS "will agree on the criteria, parameters and conditions for the admission of new members to our association," reaffiring that "Algeria, due to all its merits, is among the leading contenders."

The minister emphasized the need to develop a BRICS non-hegemonic expansion strategy that would reflect the members' legitimate interests in advancing justice and democracy on the international stage. He emphasized that unlike those the US constructed under the banner of "globalization," while abusing global dollarization and establishing other monopolies.

Regarding Washington's pressure on nations to implement sanctions against Russia, Lavrov added that Algeria will not "obey instructions that directly contradict its national interests." The FM recalled that earlier, a group of US legislators had requested that US State Secretary Antony Blinken "punish" Algeria for declining to approve sanctions against Russia.

"Like the vast majority of other nations, Algeria is a country that respects itself, its history and its interests. It is on this basis that the republic builds its policy, not relying on behind-the-scenes arrangements with those who promise 'carrots,' but in fact try only to infringe the legitimate interests of its 'partners,'" Lavrov explained.