No G20 member can unilaterally set its agenda: BRICS

No one member state can unilaterally determine the nature and character of the G20 group of major economies, that includes the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries, foreign ministers of BRICS said Monday.

"The Ministers noted with concern, the recent media statement on the forthcoming G20 Summit to be held in Brisbane in November 2014. The custodianship of the G20 belongs to all Member States equally and no one Member State can unilaterally determine its nature and character," South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement following the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting here on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit.

Media reports recently had said Australia could restrict Russia's input into the Brisbane G20 leaders' summit in November as a way of putting diplomatic pressure on it over the Ukraine crisis. Australian media had quoted the country's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as saying she was reconsidering engaging with Russia about its input into the summit agenda.

As a previous host of the G20, Russia is part of a group of three nations which helps set the agenda for the leaders' summit of G20, which represents 85 percent of the world's GDP.

"BRICS countries agreed that the challenges that exist within the regions of the BRICS countries must be addressed within the fold of the United Nations in a calm and level-headed manner. The escalation of hostile language, sanctions and counter-sanctions, and force does not contribute to a sustainable and peaceful solution, according to international law, including the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter," the statement added.

The meeting convened by South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, External Affairs Minister Salaman Khursid Foreign Minister Wang Yi of of China and Ambassador Carlos Antonio Paranhos, Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs of of Brazil.