G20 to deepen anti-terror cooperation

G20 finance ministers and central bank governors pose for the media during family photo in Istanbul, Feb 10, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

ISTANBUL - G20 finance ministers and chiefs of central banks vowed to deepen their cooperation in fighting terrorism, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said on Tuesday.

In the final communiqué released after Tuesday's meeting, G20 countries urged to speed up their compliance with the relevant international standards, in particular those concerning the exchange of information and the freezing of terrorist states.

"There is a strong will among G20 countries to freeze the assets of terrorist organizations and fight against terror," Babacan said.

To cut off the financial resources of terror organizations, the Financial Action Task Force (FAT) has been established to determine the procedures and outlines on how to fight against terrorism, according to Babacan.

The Turkish deputy prime minister and US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew asserted a strong joint commitment to combat financial networks supporting the Islamic State group at a G20 summit in Istanbul.

Babacan also offered condolences to Japan for the murder of the Japanese hostages by the IS, and strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks against the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris.