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World economy and refugees to dominate G20 summit in Antalya

On Saturday, the G20 working groups singed a joint address to the summit’s leaders urging them to step up efforts to resolve the Syrian refugee crisis

ANTALYA, November 15 /TASS/. G20 leaders will gather for an economic summit in Antalya, Turkey, on Sunday to discuss the state of world economy, the humanitarian aspect of the Syrian refugee problem and struggle against terrorism.

The G20 summit is taking place in a difficult time for Turkey. After months of political uncertainty, Turkey’s Justice and Development Party restored its ruling status in the early parliamentary elections on November 1. The government, however, will be formed after November 17. Turkey has been shaken by a series of terror strikes in recent months. The Turkish government continues fighting Kurdish militants from the Islamic State terrorist group.

French President Francois Hollande will stay away from the summit following a series of terrorist attacks that shook Paris on November 14 claiming the lives of 129 people.

A concert and other entertainments for the summit’s guests have been cancelled.

Refugees

On Saturday, the G20 working groups singed a joint address to the summit’s leaders urging them to step up efforts to resolve the Syrian refugee crisis. It says that the Syrian refugee crisis has become the biggest humanitarian disaster since WWII. "It is important to support the integration of efforts to help the refugees and work jointly with regional and national institutes and organizations. G20 is the best place to resolve this problem. We expect the leaders to respond to our calls and proposals," the G20 working groups said in their address.

Economy

The economic agenda of the G20 summit, which is meeting in the town of Belek, 20 kilometers away from Antalya, will focus on reforming of issuing IMF credits for countries with outstanding debts.

The Turkish leadership notes that the world economic growth rate has been lower than expected. Therefore, it may be necessary to revise major performance targets. According to a formula worked out in Ankara the G20 should focus on three major principles: exclusiveness, investments and realization.

W20 will be a novelty of Turkey’s G20 presidency. Its aim is to attract more women to the world economic system and its structures.

The participants

The G20 leaders who will attend the summit include Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Barrack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The heads of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will also meet on the G20 sidelines. The leaders and representatives of the European Union, other European organizations, Spain, Malaysia, Senegal, Singapore and Zimbabwe will take part in the summit. U.S. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is planning to attend the G20 summit. Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan has invited Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliev to attend the G20 summit as an honorary guest. The summit will assemble about 13,000 people. More than 2,000 accredited journalists will cover the event.

The Venue and Security

In the wake of the recent terror strikes in France, Turkey has tightened up the unprecedented security measures in Belek even further. The summit’s area has been surrounded by metallic encirclements guarded by policemen stationed every 50 -100 metres. Free movement among the hotels is almost impossible. Shuttle buses will take journalists to the summit’s events and back. Snipers will sit on the roofs of hotels in which major negotiations and bilateral meetings will take place.

Turkish coastal guard boats will protect Belek from the seaside. Several Turkish naval ships and the U.S. destroyer Donald Cook remain off the harbor. Turkish F-16 equipped with air-to air missiles are on duty at Antalya airport. A plane equipped with the AWACS system is patrolling the Turkish airspace. It will be able to detect even the smallest drones over the summit’s zone.

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