Turkey brings issues of migration and terror to G-20 summit agenda

Sevil Erkuş - ANKARA

Turkish foreign minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu attends a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Oct. 16, 2015. AP Photo

A meeting on the issue of migration crisis and terror will be held under the auspices of the G-20 summit in Antalya at the wish of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Foreign Ministry officials said. 

The leaders of the summit will gather at a dinner meeting on Nov. 15 for discussions on the topic and parties are working on a declaration, Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry Ayşe Sinirlioğlu told reporters on Oct. 27.

Leaders will endorse several papers including accountably assessment reports, G-20 investment strategies, the G-20 and low income developing countries (LIDCs) framework, the G-20 action plan on food security and sustainable food systems, she stated.

Turkey has introduced two initiatives in pursuit of the G-20’s ongoing efforts to pursue strong, sustainable, and balanced growth: an accountability framework and country-specific investment strategies that each G-20 member will prepare.

The Turkish presidency introduced inclusiveness to strong, sustainable, and balanced growth objectives of G-20 efforts, Sinirlioğlu said.

Turkey initiated a monitoring mechanism for G-20 members with the contribution of international organizations, according to Sinirlioğlu.

G-20 members have drawn out implementation plans and will present them to leaders at the summit as “accountability reports” that will outline implementation of committed measures to reach growth rate targets, she said. 

From now on, the accountability report will be on the annual agenda of every G-20, Sinirlioğlu added. 

Turkey focused on inclusiveness by promoting opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and LIDCs.

Turkey has also launched a world SME forum promoting access to finance and aimed at integrating small and medium businesses into the global economy. 

Turkey attached importance to strengthening interaction between the G-20 and LIDCs, she said. 

Azerbaijan, Singapore and the chairs of ASEAN (Malaysia), the African Union (Zimbabwe) and NEPAD (Senegal) are also invited to the G-20 meeting, she stated.

Some 8,000 to 10,000 participants are expected to attend the summit, along with 3,000 press members, she added.