Deputy PM Şimşek denies Turkey sought mention in G-20 communique

CHENGDU

Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek has denied reports that Turkey wanted the final communique of Group of 20 (G-20) financial leaders meeting in China over the weekend to include an endorsement of the current government after the failed military coup attempt last week. 

“We made no such initiative,” tweeted Şimşek, who attended the meeting in Chengdu. 

Reuters had quoted European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici as saying that Turkey had sought such a mention. 

“It is true that Turkey wanted a line on that, that was debated in the drafting sessions but the minister, after talking to a few of us, estimated that it was wiser not to raise this issue in the G-20 session itself. That was wise,” Moscovici told a news conference, according to Reuters.