"As the BRICS Summit approaches, scheduled for October 22-2...

"As the BRICS Summit approaches, scheduled for October 22-24 in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia has issued a statement regarding Türkiye’s application for full membership in the group.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov emphasized that BRICS membership decisions are made unanimously and expressed respect for Türkiye’s interest in joining. During a press conference on the summit’s preparations, Ryabkov was asked about Türkiye’s application. He stressed the importance of consensus within BRICS, stating, “We respect Türkiye’s desire to join, as we do with all countries interested in systematic engagement with BRICS.”
Ryabkov also confirmed that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend the 16th BRICS Summit. He stated, “President Erdoğan has confirmed his participation in the 16th BRICS Summit in the ‘Outreach/BRICS+’ format. When we welcome the Turkish leader in Kazan, the issue of Ukraine will also be discussed at the highest level.”
Ryabkov noted that BRICS summits address all major global issues, with the Ukraine conflict being a key topic. He added that Russia will use the platform to reiterate the causes of the crisis, emphasizing that Moscow considers Türkiye’s position on the matter."
Available at: https://www.turkiyetoday.com - BRICS summit to discuss Türkiye’s membership and global issues - Oct 4, 2024
In the sentence "As the BRICS Summit approaches, scheduled for October 22-24 in Kazan," which verb tense can be replaced without changing the meaning?