International delegations discussed the development of the architecture of equal security at the National Centre RUSSIA

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The 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues opened at the National Centre RUSSIA on May 28. The three-day event brings together around 130 delegations from over 100 countries, including members of BRICS, the SCO, ASEAN, the CIS, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the CSTO, and other international organisations.

The second day of the meeting began with an international dialogue on the topic: "Building an Architecture of Equal and Indivisible Security: Challenges and Opportunities for the Countries of the Global South and East." 

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin welcomed the participants via video address.

"Your current meeting is broadly attended by countries of the Global South and East. These nations, in fact, form the global majority and are seeking to play a more active role in regional and international processes, defending the principle of sovereign equality and the right to their own model of development. Just recently, on May 9, we solemnly marked the anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The celebration in Moscow became yet another symbol of unity around the ideals of the Great Victory, once again demonstrating the commitment of our friends and partners to building a safer world, constructive cooperation, and joint solutions to global challenges. I am confident that this latest meeting of high representatives for security issues will contribute to the development of new significant approaches to strengthening international peace and stability and will promote dialogue for the benefit of all countries and peoples," said Vladimir Putin. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov emphasised that the traditional meeting of high representatives for security issues draws interest from across the globe.

"It is encouraging that your traditional forum attracts considerable interest worldwide, even among those not represented here. The forum reflects an objective historical trend: the countries of the global majority are increasingly aware of the need to defend their rightful place in international relations. Numerous representatives of the Global South and the Global East are present in this hall, and the voice of these countries is being heard ever more clearly in discussions of the key issues of the modern world. This fact reflects a truly tectonic shift that has taken place in international politics. Above all, it is the accelerated development of a multipolar world order, a process of redistributing the balance of power in favour of new centres of development on the Eurasian continent, in Africa, and Latin America," said Sergei Lavrov.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the partnership between BRICS countries serves as an example of constructive multilateral cooperation between major global players and their partners representing various continents, cultures, and religions. Sergei Lavrov also cited the dynamic development of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China as another example of strong international relations. 

It is particularly significant that the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues is being held in Moscow for the first time, stressed Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Moscow authorities, the National Centre RUSSIA, and all those who contributed to the preparation and organisation of the meeting. Present in this hall today are 126 delegations from 104 countries, led by secretaries of Security Councils, assistants and advisers to heads of state on national security matters, ministers and heads of special services, as well as 13 secretaries-general and representatives of the leadership of international organisations. I would also like to extend a special welcome to our traditional participants, as well as to all those taking part in the conference for the first time," said Sergei Shoigu.

As noted by Igor Shchegolev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District, efforts to ensure security must be carried out jointly, on a continuous basis, and across all areas of activity.

"Regular meetings in our format have become an important mechanism of political cooperation between countries, a relevant and effective platform for collaboration, enabling contemporary threat analysis in the field of security and the development of coordinated approaches to implementing measures aimed at ensuring the security of our peoples," said Igor Shchegolev. 

The sovereignty and integrity of states today depend on achievements in the field of international security, noted Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation Sergei Naryshkin.

"Russia has no right to be weak. Russia has no right to renounce its own values and pursue the illusions of totalitarian liberalism and globalism. History teaches us that the stability of Russia underpins security across the Eurasian continent and, ultimately, throughout the world. This stability is impossible without good, genuinely equal relations with our neighbours in the Eurasian region and like-minded partners around the world. I am confident that together we can find peaceful solutions to the most complex global problems," said Sergei Naryshkin.

On May 28, the programme at the National Centre RUSSIA continued with a multilateral meeting of high representatives from Russia and ASEAN countries for security issues.