G-20 speakers discuss anti-terrorism measures, development issues

(ATTN: RECASTS first 2 paras, UPDATES with comments in 4th, 6th, 10th paras) By Kim Eun-jung SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- Parliamentary leaders from the world's 20 major economies discussed on Thursday anti-terrorism measures, sustainable growth and other issues facing the international community, as a G-20 parliamentary speakers' conference got under way in Seoul. The two-day meeting brought together parliamentary leaders and representatives from the G-20 nations, five non-G-20 members -- Spain, Ethiopia, Singapore, Equatorial Guinea and Algeria -- and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. South Korea's National Assembly speaker Park Hee-tae and other parliamentarians will hold four sessions of discussions at the parliament's main hall, the Rotunda Hall, throughout Thursday under the theme "Safe World, Better Future." "Human beings are now faced with very serious and critical problems, including natural disasters, poverty, terrorism, climate change and a nuclear crisis," speaker Park said in an opening address. "As one nation cannot solve these problems, several countries should collaborate to put forth a joint effort." This week's conference comes as the death of Osama bin Laden last month has triggered security alerts across the globe and ongoing political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. "If there is a comprehensive pact on terrorism, the international community will be able to take an integrated action," such as cutting off the flow of funds to terrorists, said Meira Kumar, the speaker of India's lower house. Other issues on the agenda include helping developing economies suffering from the aftereffects of the 2008 global financial crisis and the recent rise in food prices as well as measures to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation to solve global challenges. For common prosperity, South Korean representatives will share their experiences of raising the country from the ashes of the Korean War to become Asia's fourth-largest economy in less than half a century. This is the second meeting of the G-20 speakers since they first met in September 2009 following the G-20 summit to continue the agenda at the parliamentary level so that legislative bodies of respective nations can craft legal systems and policies to cope with global challenges. "Clearly, we live in troubled times," said U.S. Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, the representative of the American Samoa in the Pacific Ocean. "But the very fact that we, as parliamentarians from around the world, are gathered here in Seoul, Korea, to discuss ways we can coordinate policy to address the global financial crisis, poverty, climate change, food shortages and terrorism is an indication that we also live in hopeful times." The participants will have a luncheon at a traditional Korean house inside the National Assembly compound. Speaker Park will have bilateral meetings with representatives from 13 nations between sessions to seek ways to promote ties between the nations, according to the organizing committee.