Turkish deputy PM condemns Paris attacks

ANTALYA, Turkey

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Cevdet Yılmaz has strongly condemned the overnight gun-and-bomb attacks in Paris that has killed at least 127 people.

Addressing the Labor 20 (L20) conference in Turkey’s coastal province of Antalya Saturday, Yilmaz expressed his "deep regret and sadness" over the Paris attacks and called on the international community to come together to fight against the perpetrators.

A minute's silence was also held before the conference to remember the victims of Friday’s attacks.

“I would like to express that we, Turkey, share France's pain,” Yilmaz said. He added that Turkey too had suffered terrorist attacks on several occasions and it truly understood France.

Yilmaz said that all terrorist attacks aim to disrupt the unity of humanity itself and many countries and nations become enemies of each other after such cruel attacks.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also offered his condolences to France. Speaking to reporters in Antalya ahead of Turkey's G20 summit this weekend, Erdogan said: "Turkey knows very well the meaning of terror and its results. We are sharing the pain of both President Hollande and the French people, and I extend my condolences to our French friends."

Erdogan said that he had already expressed the need for an agreement to tackle terrorism as the international community, and called for a consensus on the fight against terror.

"The people of my country know all too well about terrorism and we think and feel the same for the attacks in Paris. We will continue our resolute stance against terrorism," the Turkish president added.

French President Francois Hollande has cancelled his Turkey visit to attend the G20 Summit which is due to start on Sunday.

Plans to reduce unemployment

At the L20 Summit, Yilmaz also spoke about reducing youth unemployment and gender gap.

“We are aiming to reduce youth unemployment to 15 percent by 2025.” Yilmaz said, adding that the gender gap too will be reduced by 25 percent within that timeframe.

"After taking G20 presidency on Dec. 1, 2014, we are building on previous presidencies' agenda and will ensure a seamless continuity in the G20, while introducing new elements to ensure decisive collective action to provide inclusive and robust growth and reduce youth unemployment," he said.

This year’s G20 Summit is being held under the Turkish Presidency.

The L20 Summit, held under the G20, provides a forum to discuss the global labor movement and its future engagement by a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, civil society and business leaders.

At the forum, Angel Gurria, secretary-general of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), highlighted the importance of open data and how it helps governments in actively engaging with stakeholders.

“All together, governments, private sectors and civil society can bring data into use for better life,” Gurria said.

The G20 was formed in 1999 as a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis. Later on in 2008, the first G20 Leaders' Summit was held and the forum played a key role in helping member countries respond to the global financial crisis. Since then, G20 leaders have met nine times.