Russia: Naryshkin condemns "failing" European organisations at BRICS Forum

The first-ever BRICS Parliamentary Forum got under way in Moscow, Monday, featuring over 100 lawmakers, delegates and participants from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. During the forum the Chairman of Russia's State Duma Sergei Naryshkin lashed out at what he called the "inaction, double standards, inconsistencies in assessment" of European organisations. Naryshkin said that these unfavourable characteristics lead to problems with "the quality of the entire international legal system." Naryshkin also proposed the "establishment of a permanent parliamentary group of the BRICS forum," which would help develop the a "long-term strategy." Also present was Valentina Matviyenko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council, who read out a letter addressed to delegates from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The letter stated that the forum was "an important step that is being made at the right time in the development of the BRICS." It is the very first time that BRICS member states' parliamentarians have met to discuss issues facing the organisation. Founded in 2008 and expanded to take in South Africa in 2010, the BRICS will have their seventh annual summit in the Russian city of Ufa in July.