Gruesome Paris attacks overshadowed the G20 Leaders Summit in this Turkish coastal resort town, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for a united global effort to combat terrorism while US President Barack Obama vowed to “redouble” efforts to wipe out the ISIS network.
The G20 Summit, which was expected to mainly discuss inclusive economic growth and climate change, is now set to adopt a resolution at the end of the two-day meeting on Monday calling for better coordination and exchange of information to cut off funding and a more comprehensive approach on “addressing the conditions conducive to terrorism.”
The rare resolution on terror is likely to be separate from the main Summit declaration, officials said.
The declaration may seek quicker implementation of the Financial Action Task Force, which involves stopping individuals sending money to groups like Islamic State and tackling the black market for oil that’s key to its funding.
It also plans to prevent terrorists from exploiting technology, communications and resources to incite terrorism acts, including through the Internet.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he will soon submit to the UN General Assembly a comprehensive plan to deal with violent extremism and terrorism.
Ahead of the official beginning of the G20 Summit, US President Obama held one-on-one meetings with world leaders including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his meeting with BRICS leaders, on sidelines of G20, condemned the dreadful acts of terrorism in Paris. “The entire humanity must stand together as one against terrorism. The need for a united global effort to combat terrorism has never been more urgent. This must also be a priority for BRICS nations,” he said.
Obama vowed to stand by France in hunting down the Paris attackers and to “redouble” efforts to
wipe out the Islamic State jihadist network.
“The killing of innocent people based on a twisted ideology is an attack not just on France, not just on Turkey but it is an attack on the civilised world.
“As we, I am sure, each said to President Hollande and the French people, we stand in solidarity with them in hunting down the perpetrators of this crime and bringing them to justice,” Obama told reporters here.
“We will redouble our efforts working with other members of the coalition to bring about a peaceful transition in Syria and to eliminate Daesh as a force that can create so much pain and suffering for people in Paris and Ankara and other parts of the globe,” Obama said.
The Summit, which opened on Sunday, will also focus on the current state of the global economy, sustainable growth, development and climate change, investment, trade and energy, besides the refugee crisis.
The G20 countries account for 85 per cent of the world economy, 75 per cent of the global trade and two-third of the world’s population.
The G20’s mandate is to foster economic and financial stability and the 2015 Summit agenda refers to “strengthening the global recovery” and enhancing market regulation, energy policy and climate change.
The killing of 129 persons in Paris terror attacks linked to the Islamic State ahead of the Summit has put pressure on global leaders to enhance cooperation in their fight against terrorism.
After his bilateral meeting with Erdogan, Obama said traditionally the G20 Summit is a forum primarily to discuss economic issues facing the globe “but the skies have been darkened by horrific attacks that took place in Paris just a day and half ago.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said, “We have all seen the horror that took place recently in Paris and we sympathise with the affected people.” Russia is “always in favour of joining efforts to deal effectively with the terrorist threat,” he said. “Of course it is necessary to act in strict accordance with the United Nations.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping said, “We will work more closely with the international community to reject and fight terrorism in all its manifestations,” he said. “It should be our aim to coordinate our action against Daesh (ISIS),” European Union President Donald Tusk said here.
Syria: Obama, Putin agree to UN-mediated talks
U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on the need for a Syria-led political transition, including U.N.-mediated talks, when they spoke at the G20 summmit on Sunday, a White House official said.
In a 35 minute discussion on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) meeting in Turkey, the two discussed efforts to find a solution to the conflict, which had been made more pressing by the attacks in Paris that killed 129 people, the official said.
“President Obama and President Putin agreed on the need for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition, which would be proceeded by UN-mediated negotiations between the Syrian opposition and regime as well a ceasefire,” the official said.
Obama welcomed efforts by all countries in confronting Islamic State, noting the importance of Russia’s military efforts in Syria focusing on the group, the official said.