Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

G20 seeks united front to crush IS after Paris attacks

-

World leaders on Monday sought to join forces to bring peace to Syria and destroy the Islamic State jihadist network, hoping to curb the extremist menace after the Paris attacks.

Leaders of the Group of 20 top economies meeting in Turkey will describe the Paris gun and bombing strikes as an "unacceptable affront to all humanity", according to a draft statement obtained by AFP.

Concretely, they will share intelligence to crack down on the movement of foreign fighters across borders, said the communique, which is subject to final approval by the leaders.

US President Barack Obama (right) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin talk before the G20 sum...
US President Barack Obama (right) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin talk before the G20 summit in the Turkish resort of Antalya, on November 16, 2015
Kayhan Ozer, Pool/AFP

Western leaders sought in particular to narrow important differences with Russian President Vladimir Putin on bringing peace to Syria and fighting Islamic State jihadists.

The urgent need to coordinate action on Syria after the Paris attacks that killed 129 people and were claimed by the Islamic State group reshaped the agenda but leaders still pressed ahead with a drive to stave off catastrophic climate change.

- 'Stop slaughter in Syria' -

Russia has refused to abandon its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the four-year civil war, which has claimed more than a quarter of a million lives and displaced millions more.

Moscow has embarked on its own bombing campaign that has been welcomed by the regime but greeted with suspicion in the West.

Belgian security forces raid a property in Brussels as they search for suspects linked to the Paris ...
Belgian security forces raid a property in Brussels as they search for suspects linked to the Paris attacks, on November 16, 2015
Dirk Waem, Belga/AFP

"We must not let this gap between us be the altar on which this country, Syria, is slaughtered," British Prime Minister David Cameron told BBC radio before heading into talks with Putin.

Despite disputes with Moscow, there is agreement that Islamic State was as much a threat to Russia as to Europe, Cameron said.

"We are prepared to make compromises," he added.

Only a permanent political settlement in Syria would enable world powers to "destroy and degrade" Islamic State, Cameron said, adding that British security services have foiled some seven terror attacks since June.

French police on patrol outside the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris  on November 16  2015
French police on patrol outside the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris, on November 16, 2015
Miguel Medina, AFP

Turkish presidential sources said terrorism and a vast refugee crisis were discussed at Sunday's official dinner, with host President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasising the need for greater intelligence sharing.

After talks with Cameron, Putin said other disputes should be put aside to "unite our efforts in our fight against this evil, this terrorism".

- Coffee table summit -

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for "intensive cooperation" between intelligence agencies as well as the military to combat terror.

US President Barack Obama on Sunday held one of his most intimate discussions yet with Putin, both men seen hunched over a coffee table in animated discussion during a break in the summit.

US officials said the two leaders agreed on the need for a political transition for Syria that would be set up by a ceasefire and UN-brokered talks. The Kremlin said the two sides shared the same goal of fighting Islamic State but differed on tactics.

The stepped-up diplomacy came after world powers agreed in Vienna at the weekend on an outline for political transition for Syria, but crucially not on the fraught issue of what should happen to Russia's ally Assad.

In the draft special statement obtained by AFP, world leaders raised the alarm over an "acute and growing flow of foreign terrorist fighters".

They vowed to share intelligence, track border crossings and boost aviation security to halt the movement of jihadist fighters.

Turkey, which said it had foiled a potentially, major terror attack in Istanbul on the same day as the Paris attacks, lamented that it had already warned the French authorities that one of the bombers in the attacks was a threat.

Despite the heavy shadow cast by the attacks, world leaders pressed on with their original agenda, pledging in a draft to agree legally-binding goals on climate change at a conference in Paris later this month but making no mention of whether they will help developing countries meet the targets.

World leaders on Monday sought to join forces to bring peace to Syria and destroy the Islamic State jihadist network, hoping to curb the extremist menace after the Paris attacks.

Leaders of the Group of 20 top economies meeting in Turkey will describe the Paris gun and bombing strikes as an “unacceptable affront to all humanity”, according to a draft statement obtained by AFP.

Concretely, they will share intelligence to crack down on the movement of foreign fighters across borders, said the communique, which is subject to final approval by the leaders.

US President Barack Obama (right) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin talk before the G20 sum...

US President Barack Obama (right) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin talk before the G20 summit in the Turkish resort of Antalya, on November 16, 2015
Kayhan Ozer, Pool/AFP

Western leaders sought in particular to narrow important differences with Russian President Vladimir Putin on bringing peace to Syria and fighting Islamic State jihadists.

The urgent need to coordinate action on Syria after the Paris attacks that killed 129 people and were claimed by the Islamic State group reshaped the agenda but leaders still pressed ahead with a drive to stave off catastrophic climate change.

– ‘Stop slaughter in Syria’ –

Russia has refused to abandon its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the four-year civil war, which has claimed more than a quarter of a million lives and displaced millions more.

Moscow has embarked on its own bombing campaign that has been welcomed by the regime but greeted with suspicion in the West.

Belgian security forces raid a property in Brussels as they search for suspects linked to the Paris ...

Belgian security forces raid a property in Brussels as they search for suspects linked to the Paris attacks, on November 16, 2015
Dirk Waem, Belga/AFP

“We must not let this gap between us be the altar on which this country, Syria, is slaughtered,” British Prime Minister David Cameron told BBC radio before heading into talks with Putin.

Despite disputes with Moscow, there is agreement that Islamic State was as much a threat to Russia as to Europe, Cameron said.

“We are prepared to make compromises,” he added.

Only a permanent political settlement in Syria would enable world powers to “destroy and degrade” Islamic State, Cameron said, adding that British security services have foiled some seven terror attacks since June.

French police on patrol outside the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris  on November 16  2015

French police on patrol outside the Sacre Coeur Basilica in Paris, on November 16, 2015
Miguel Medina, AFP

Turkish presidential sources said terrorism and a vast refugee crisis were discussed at Sunday’s official dinner, with host President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasising the need for greater intelligence sharing.

After talks with Cameron, Putin said other disputes should be put aside to “unite our efforts in our fight against this evil, this terrorism”.

– Coffee table summit –

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for “intensive cooperation” between intelligence agencies as well as the military to combat terror.

US President Barack Obama on Sunday held one of his most intimate discussions yet with Putin, both men seen hunched over a coffee table in animated discussion during a break in the summit.

US officials said the two leaders agreed on the need for a political transition for Syria that would be set up by a ceasefire and UN-brokered talks. The Kremlin said the two sides shared the same goal of fighting Islamic State but differed on tactics.

The stepped-up diplomacy came after world powers agreed in Vienna at the weekend on an outline for political transition for Syria, but crucially not on the fraught issue of what should happen to Russia’s ally Assad.

In the draft special statement obtained by AFP, world leaders raised the alarm over an “acute and growing flow of foreign terrorist fighters”.

They vowed to share intelligence, track border crossings and boost aviation security to halt the movement of jihadist fighters.

Turkey, which said it had foiled a potentially, major terror attack in Istanbul on the same day as the Paris attacks, lamented that it had already warned the French authorities that one of the bombers in the attacks was a threat.

Despite the heavy shadow cast by the attacks, world leaders pressed on with their original agenda, pledging in a draft to agree legally-binding goals on climate change at a conference in Paris later this month but making no mention of whether they will help developing countries meet the targets.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

World

US President Joe Biden delivers remarks after signing legislation authorizing aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan at the White House on April 24, 2024...

World

AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla face damaging allegations about an EU parliamentarian's aide accused of spying for China - Copyright AFP Odd...

Business

Meta's growth is due in particular to its sophisticated advertising tools and the success of "Reels" - Copyright AFP SEBASTIEN BOZONJulie JAMMOTFacebook-owner Meta on...

World

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leads prayers by the coffins of seven Revolutionary Guards killed in an April 1 air strike on the...