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Italy calls for further intelligence cooperation to combat ISIL

FLORENCE, Italy, Nov 27 (KUNA) -- Italy's Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti has stressed the need for further military coordination and intelligence cooperation among allies to combat the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
In a speech at the conclusion of a forum of the Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group (GSM) and the Subآ­Committee on Transatlantic Economic Relations on Friday evening, she said countries should not be worried about the joint intelligence action, referring to information which was not provided to France about the masterminds of the Paris attacks on November 13.
She reiterated that combating terrorism requires a "joint operations room" and military coordination to help prevent further shooting down of warplanes in Syria, referring to the downing of Russian fighter jet by Turkey a few days ago.
There are diplomatic efforts to push the Vienna negotiations ahead to find a solution to the Syrian crisis, she said, noting that the recent incident between Turkey and Russia will complicate the situation.
On her part, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini underlined through a videoconference that specifying the goal is an essential matter to combat ISIL.
She said that the European Union is not involved directly in military operations, but it is part of the global alliance against the ISIL.
She added that it is difficult to identify who finances terrorism now, but is can be possible in the future.
The forum inaugurated by Italy's Senate Speaker Piero Grasso on Thursday discussed the issues of refugees, ideological roots of terrorism, international and regional strategies to defeat ISIL, the issue of financing terrorism, the issue of women, development in the Middle East, Libya's crisis and the West-Iran relations.
Kuwait took part in the event with a high-profile delegation headed by Auda Al-Rowaey in the presence of Kuwaiti Ambassador to Italy Sheikh Ali Khaled Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and some senior officials. (end) mn.hm