Russia's partners in the BRICS grouping of large emerging nations called Thursday for Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as soon as possible.

"Brazil, India, China and South Africa extend full support to the early accession of Russia to the World Trade Organization," a joint English-language declaration issued after a summit in the south China resort of Sanya read, as cited by Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Russia, the only large economy outside the global trade club, has been negotiating its entry into the WTO for 17 years. The country has expressed its discontent over the unjustifiable politicization of its accession into the organization.

The declaration, signed by presidents Hu Jintao, Dmitry Medvedev, Dilma Rousseff, Jacob Zuma, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also said the BRICS countries would continue to work to deepen bilateral "economic, trade and investment cooperation." This was the first BRICS summit participation for newly-elected Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

During the summit, the leaders of the BRICS countries also called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Libya. Chinese President Hu Jintao, who chaired the meeting, told summit participants of his country's concerns. Hu says recent months have seen political riots and even a war in North African countries, negatively affecting regional stability.

Four members of the BRICS group - Brazil, Russia, India and China - abstained on the vote on the United Nations Security Council resolution that authorized international enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya.

South Africa, which is joining the BRICS meeting for the first time, voted in favor of the U.N. resolution, but joined in Thursday's criticism of the Western-led air campaign in Libya.

"The Security Council resolutions should be implemented," Russian President Medvedev declared, commenting on the issue. "They should be implemented in accordance with their letter and spirit," he added.

"What have we got as a result (of voting on Libya at the Council)? As a result, we essentially have got a military operation. The resolution says nothing about it."

"In this, the BRICS countries are absolutely united," Medvedev said.

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