[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 175 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING TURKEY FOR HOSTING THE ANNUAL G20 LEADERS SUMMIT IN 
                     ANTALYA, NOVEMBER 15-16, 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM COLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 3, 2015

  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Republic of Turkey 
for hosting the successful annual G20 Leader's Summit in Antalya, 
November 15-16, 2015.
  While Syria and the fight against terrorists was already on the 
agenda, the Paris terrorist attacks by ISIS ensured that these issues 
remained in the forefront. Ultimately, the G20 countries issued a 
strong statement condemning the heinous terrorist attacks, uniting to 
combat them, remain committed to fighting the financial tools used, and 
supporting a comprehensive approach to one of the international 
community's greatest challenges in this century.
  The G20 was established on September 26, 1999 when the Finance 
Ministers of the G7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, 
the United Kingdom and the United States) came together after the Asian 
financial crisis. The inaugural meeting was held in Berlin in December 
1999.
  The G20 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, 
France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, 
Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, 
the United States, and the European Union. The economies of the 
countries combined account for 85% of the global economic output, 80% 
of world trade, and 65% of the world's population.
  When the group met for the first time in Washington, DC represented 
by world leaders in 2008, they discussed ways to respond collectively 
to the 2008-09 crisis to restore growth, strengthen the global 
financial system, and reform international financial institutions.
  Turkey officially took over the presidency of the G20 from Australia 
in December 1, 2014 and China will preside over the organization in 
2016.
  The other three key objectives of the 2015 G20 Leader's Summit in 
Antalya were strengthening the global recovery, enhancing resilience, 
and buttressing sustainability.
  Turkey's growing economy is significant because Turkey's companies 
are expanding and trading with not only traditional markets such as 
neighboring countries or the European Union, but Turkish firms are also 
increasingly looking to invest in the United States, including Indian 
country.
  I am proud to have sponsored legislation which facilitated the 
investment from not only Turkey, but all WTO countries in native lands.
  As a member of Congress who has long championed US-Turkish relations 
and economic integration, I congratulate Turkey on hosting this 
important summit at a challenging time.

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