India denies PM Modi will not attend BRICS Summit in South Africa

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed that he will personally participate in this year's BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, during a phone call with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on August 3, according to the Indian Prime Minister's Office.

Leaders of the BRICS member countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – are scheduled to meet on August 22-24.

“The Prime Minister accepted the invitation and expressed his anticipation of his visit to Johannesburg to attend the Summit,” a statement from the Indian Prime Minister’s Office said. For his part, South African President Ramaphosa said he looked forward to visiting India to attend the G20 Summit in September.

The two leaders noted the progress made in bilateral cooperation, including the activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, held this year, and discussed a number of regional and global issues of mutual concern, New Delhi said.

The announcement comes after recent media speculation that Mr Modi may participate in the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa via video conference.

World - India denies Prime Minister Modi will not attend BRICS Summit in South Africa — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS Summit in Benaulim, India, October 15, 2016. Photo: Getty Images

On August 1, the Economic Times (India) reported that the South Asian country's government is considering letting Prime Minister Modi attend the BRICS Summit via video link considering "geopolitical developments" that forced Russian President Vladimir Putin to address the conference online.

A day later, on August 2, Reuters news agency also cited sources saying that Mr. Modi could participate in the annual event of the BRICS bloc via video link.

Earlier on August 3, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi declined to comment on the rumors, urging reporters to “be patient” and not believe “speculative media reports.”

After months of speculation, the South African President's Office clarified in July that Mr Putin would not attend the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in person after the two sides reached a "mutual agreement".

Moscow later confirmed that Putin would attend the BRICS summit via video link, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov representing Russia. The Kremlin said that despite his online participation, the Russian leader’s contribution to the summit would be “comprehensive”.

Mr Putin was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March, alleging that he was responsible for the abduction of Ukrainian children and their transfer to Russia. Moscow has denied the allegations and does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction because it is not a party to the ICC.

But South Africa is different. As a signatory to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC, the African country would be obliged to arrest the Russian president if he set foot on its soil .

Minh Duc (According to RT, Euronews)

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