IBSA grouping issue joint statement calling for UNSC reforms

News: External Affairs Minister of India has chaired the India-Brazil-South Africa(IBSA) Foreign Ministers meet. 

Facts:

• The countries called for accelerated and comprehensive reforms of the United Nations Security Council(UNSC).
• They also agreed to extend their support to African Union in accordance with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.
  • Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte declaration: It was adopted by the African Union in 2003 to call for at least 2 permanent and 5 to 2 non-permanent UNSC seats to be given to African countries at UNSC.

Additional Facts:

• IBSA: It is a unique Forum that brings together India, Brazil and South Africa.The grouping was formalized and named the IBSA Dialogue Forum when the Foreign Ministers of the three countries met in Brasilia in 2003 and issued the Brasilia Declaration.
• Cooperation in IBSA is on three fronts: 
  • Forum for consultation and coordination on global and regional political issues.
  • Trilateral collaboration on concrete areas/projects, through fourteen working groups and six People-to-People Forums for the common benefit of three countries and 
  • Assisting other developing countries by taking up projects in the latter through IBSA Fund.
    • IBSA Fund: It was established in 2004 and became operational in 2006 to support projects on a demand driven basis through partnerships with local governments, national institutions and implementing partners.