G20 summit to become important event to seek Syrian crisis resolution

The Syrian issue will be one of the most important items on the agenda of a G20 summit in St. Petersburg, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said on Tuesday. “Major world powers interested in this issue will meet at a G20 summit. Our prime minister will also participate in the summit and conduct talks. Turkey’s position and the country’s principles are well known. I believe that meetings at the summit will be important,” he said. Deputy prime minister believes  G20 participants will also raise the issue of Syrian refugees and the need to fund the aid programs. “Turkey had to spend a significant sum for these purposes. We have spent about two billion Turkish liras ($1 billion) so far. We have not received sufficient financial support from the United Nations and the world community in this issue,” Atalay said, noting that Ankara expects more active steps to this effect from the world community. Previously it was reported that Syria was not on the agenda of the G20 summit. However, the situation definitely could be discussed, officials said. "Only Russia may raise the issue,” said Michael Mann, press secretary of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European Union.