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21:57 GMT
BRUSSELS, Dec 2 (KUNA) -- NATO foreign minister had "very extensive discussions on the developments in North Africa and in the Middle East," NATO Secretary Geenral Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference after the meeting Tuesday night.
"We discussed the progress of the global coalition against ISIL. The measures taken by France and other Allies in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Paris. And the Vienna talks to find a political solution to the war in Syria," he said.
In reply to a question by the Kuwait news agency, KUNA, on Syria, Stoltenbeg said he welcomes the fact that several countries have been able to sit down and to start the talks in Vienna, Austria.
"These talks were strongly supported by Allies in the meeting today," he said.
Syrian President Bashar "Assad is responsible for the atrocities and also responsible for much of the violence. To find a solution, a transition also regarding his position is part of what is now addressed in the Vienna talks. But I will leave it to those sitting around the table to find a solution," he added.
The ministers also discussed the downing of the Russian jet last week, he said and added that "Turkey has the right to defend its territorial integrity and air space." (end)
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