ANTALYA, Nov 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today joined US President Barack Obama and other world leaders to seek urgent and united global efforts to combat terrorism as the gruesome Paris attacks, war in Syria and the fight against Islamic State militants overshadowed the G20 Summit.
The meeting of leaders from 20 top economies, which was to discuss inclusive economic growth and climate change, will adopt a resolution at the end of the two-day meeting tomorrow 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 resolution on terror would be separate from the main Summit declaration, officials said.
In his intervention at the G20 Summit, Modi said the meeting is being held under “the tragic shadow of dreadful acts of terrorism” and leaders are “united by a sense shock, pain and outrage.”
“We are united in condemning the barbaric attacks in Paris this week and the recent bombings in Ankara and Lebanon. We share the sorrow of Russia for the lost lives in the fallen aircraft in Sinai,” he said. “These alone are a stark reminder of the dark force we face — larger than specific groups and particular targets and territories.”
“It is a major global challenge of our times. It not only takes a tragic toll of lives, it also extracts a huge economic cost and threatens our way of life. It calls for a comprehensive global response. Combating it must be major priority for G20,” Modi said.
Earlier at a meeting of BRICS leaders on the sidelines of G20 Summit at this Turkish coastal resort town, he said, “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.”
The declaration after the G20 talks may seek quicker implementation of the Financial Action Task Force recommendations that seek to stop individuals sending money to groups like ISIS and tackle the black market for oil that is seen as being key to their funding.
It also plans to prevent terrorists from exploiting technology, communications and resources to incite terrorist acts, including through the Internet.
Obama pledged to redouble efforts to eliminate the Islamic State and end the Syrian civil war that has fueled the rise of the jihadist network. He described Paris terror strikes as “attack on the civilised world” and said “the skies have been darkened” by the horrific assault.
At the BRICS meeting, Modi said: “We stand united in strongly condemning the dreadful acts of terrorism in Paris…
“We express deepest sympathy and support to Russia for the loss of life in Sinai. Ankara and Beirut are also reminders of terror’s growing spread and impact”.
Obama pledged solidarity with French President Francois Hollande in the effort to hunt down the perpetrators of Paris attacks and bring them to justice. Hollande had to cancel his plans to attend the G20 Summit due to Parris attacks, in which at least 129 were killed and hundreds others were injured. The attacks were later owned up by ISIS.
Traditionally, the G20 Summit has been a forum 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,” Obama said after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan said there will be a “strong message” coming out of the Summit on fighting terrorism.
He was to hold a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman this evening to affirm the need to cooperate in fighting Islamic State.
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.
“The killing of innocent people, based on a twisted ideology, is an attack not just on France, not just on Turkey, but it’s an attack on the civilised world,” Obama said. In addition to the Paris attacks, ISIS has been responsible for two bombings in Turkey this year that killed about 130 people.
Condemning the double suicide bombing in the Turkish capital Ankara last month, Obama said he discussed with Erdogan the conflict in Syria, efforts to tighten Turkey’s borders and the refugee crisis affecting Turkey and Europe.
Turkey, he said, had been a “strong partner” with the US-led coalition against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. “The discussion we had today I think was very helpful in helping continue to coordinate work that we are doing together, to help to fortify the borders between Syria and Turkey that allow Daesh (Islamic State) to operate.”
Erdogan said Turkey, which holds the G20 presidency this year, would continue to show solidarity with the United States and said that he expected the summit to produce a strong statement on the fight against terrorism.
“We are confronted with collective terrorism activity around the world as terrorism does not recognise any religion, any race, any nation or any country,” Erdogan said.
“We will of course carry on with our discussions in the G20 summit within the predetermined agenda, however we will put strong emphasis on having a firm stance on international terrorism,” he said.
The series of coordinated attacks in Paris on Friday night has catapulted finding ways to stop Islamic State militants and the crisis in Syria , where the terror group has become entrenched, as the top priority for the G20 leaders.
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.
Meanwhile, India today announced conclusion of a civil nuclear deal for buying uranium from Australia to increase conventional fuel supplies to overcome chronic shortages.
The announcement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull on the sidelines of the G20 Summit here.
“Another milestone achievement as two PMs announce completion of procedures for India Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted after the meeting.
“With the completion of procedures, including administrative arrangements, the India Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement will enter into force,” he said.
The nuclear cooperation agreement between India and Australia was signed in September last year after the two nations agreed on a safeguards pact to sell uranium for peaceful power generation.
The deal, which follows similar agreements with the US and France, is a step toward India achieving international acceptability for its nuclear programme despite not ratifying the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
“PM @narendramodi thanked PM @TurnbullMalcolm and described the nuclear agreement as a milestone & source of trust & confidence,” the spokesperson said.
India, which has nuclear energy contributing just 3 per cent of its electricity generation, will be the first country to buy Australian uranium without being a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
India and Australia began talks on the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in 2012 after Australia lifted a long-standing ban on selling uranium to energy-starved India.(PTI)
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