Bolsonaro promises to release list of countries that criticize Brazil for...

“In the next few days, we will reveal the names of the countries that import this illegal wood of ours through the immensity that is the Amazon region, because then, yes, we will be showing that these countries, some of them that criticize us a lot, partly have responsibility in this issue”, said.

According to Bolsonaro, this tracking is possible with the use of a technology developed by the Federal Police that shows the “DNA” of wood, allowing the location of the origin of the material seized and exported.

“I believe that after this demonstration, which interests everyone, why not say it in the world, this practice will decrease a lot in this region”, added the president.

Due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, the bloc’s meeting was virtual for the first time. The group was founded in 2006 and at the time it was called Bric. In 2011, South Africa joined the bloc, which came to be called Brics. Since 2009, country leaders have met annually.

The last Brics meeting was in November 2019, in Brasília. On the occasion, President Jair Bolsonaro said that the government’s foreign policy “has its eyes set on the world”, but puts Brazil “first.”

President Jair Bolsonaro and ministers Ernesto Araújo (Foreign Affairs / left) and Paulo Guedes (Economy / right) at the BRICS Summit – Photo: Marcos Corrêa / Presidency of the Republic

At this Tuesday’s summit, Bolsonaro again criticized the work of the World Health Organization (WHO) in combating the pandemic of the new coronavirus and took advantage of the meeting to defend a reform of the organism.

“From the beginning, I also criticized the politicization of the virus and the alleged monopoly of knowledge by the WHO, the World Health Organization, which urgently needs reforms,” ​​said Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro points out need for WHO and WTO reform

The president also pointed out the need for changes in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the articulation of the BRICS to guarantee permanent seats to Brazil, India and South Africa in the United Nations Security Council. China and Russia already have a permanent seat on the council.

“Just as the BRICS reaches consensus and expresses common opinions on several issues, it is also necessary that the BRICS coordinate to support the legitimate aspirations of Brazil, India and South Africa to permanent seats on the Security Council,” said Bolsonaro.

The president again cited that his government acted to deal with the health and economic crises caused by the pandemic. According to him, Brazil is working on “the search for a safe and effective vaccine against covid-19”.

After the summit, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the “Moscow Declaration”, a joint manifestation by the leaders of the five BRICS countries.

In the text of more than 90 items, the leaders recognized the need for a “reinvigorated and reformed” system of multilateral organizations, which includes the UN, WTO, WHO and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“We reiterate the call for reforms by the main bodies of the United Nations. We commit ourselves to instill new spirit in the discussions on the reform of the UN Security Council and to continue the work to revitalize the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council”, says text excerpt.

The bloc also recognized Brazil’s candidacy for a seat on the Security Council in the 2022-2023 biennium.

The heads of the five countries underscored the importance of “widespread immunization” to “end the pandemic, as soon as safe, quality, effective, efficient, affordable and affordable vaccines are available”.

The leaders recognized the initiatives of WHO, governments and non-profit organizations to accelerate vaccine research and development.

“We recognize the fundamental role of the United Nations system, including WHO, in coordinating the comprehensive global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the central efforts of States in this regard,” says the text.