Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Prior to the G20 Leaders Summit, expansion groups made an announcement regarding the refugee crisis.

In the proclamation, it is stated that there is a vast amount of worry in regards to the refugee crisis and a clear need for a stronger collective action to address the issue.

The proclamation which will be relayed to the government leaders who will be attending the G20 Leaders Summit and will urge “support for the development programs of the countries harboring the highest number of Syrian refugees,” states:

“It is of the utmost importance that the steps to be taken by G20 will go above and beyond humanitarian aid and will include mid to long term economic support for the refugees and the countries which host them. In terms of structural, geopolitical and financial effects, with a focus on coordination, G20 stands at the ideal position to provide this support. The leaders of the countries with the largest economies in the world are obligated to act in the face of this situation.”

The demands put forth in the proclamation are:

- Refugees should be allowed to work and the necessary steps to ensure this need to be taken.

- In the spirit of international cooperation, refugees who have been forced to flee to neighboring countries should be fairly redistributed.

- World Bank, United Nations and other international organizations should work with the regional and international organizations which are working to provide employment to refugees as well as supporting the integration of refugees.

- Countries hosting refugees should work together with international organizations to begin and finance skill enhancing programs to increase the capacities of refugees.

- Steps to encourage new and innovative economic activities which will benefit refugees and the countries hosting them should be taken.

- Needs of refugees should be financed with social protection programs of their host countries.

- Deeper integration of refugees should be supported and, in order to lighten the burden of host countries, basic social services such as education and health need to be invested in. The G20 term chair, Turkey, is and has been  hosting the largest population of refugees for years.

- Call for a solution to the refugee problem

TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the world is experiencing the largest refugee crisis since WWII.

Reporting that half of all Syrian refugees are living in Turkey and that Turkey is trying to solve this problem with its own resources, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The refugee crisis is a global issue and as such needs to be solved by all of us together.”

Türk-İş General Director Ergün Atalay stated that Syrian refugees are their guests and that syndicates in Turkey are working to contribute to a solution to the refugee crisis.

T20 Chair Güven Sak pointed to the need for international cooperation in order to bring about a solution to the refugee crisis.

C20 Chair Zeynep Bodur Okyay stated that the refugees are in need of G20 support and stressed the need to focus on long term solutions to the issue instead of shorter ones.

International Trade Union Confederation Secretary General Sharan Burrow expressed her admiration for the hospitability shown to refugees by Turkey which she witnessed during her visit to the refugee camps established in Turkey.