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NATO leaders to decide on expanding support to anti-IS coalition - Stoltenberg

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General
BRUSSELS, May 25 (KUNA) -- NATO leaders are to begin this afternoon a short summit with the focus on the Alliance's role in the fight against terrorism and fairer burden-sharing in NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General told reporters Thursday.
"We are making progress on both. NATO has been actively engaged in the fight against terrorism for many years. Today, we will adopt an action plan to enhance NATO's contributions," he said.
Stoltenberg noted that NATO AWACS surveillance planes provide information to the Global Coalition to Defeat IS.
"Today, we will decide to expand our support to the Coalition. With more AWACS flight-time, more information-sharing and air-to-air refuelling. All 28 Allies are members of the Global Coalition and today, we will agree on NATO's membership in the Coalition," he said.
"This will send a strong political message of NATO's commitment to the fight against terrorism. And improve coordination within the Coalition. But it does not mean that NATO will engage in combat operations," he clarified.
"At the same time, we will agree to establish a new terrorism intelligence cell here at NATO headquarters. Improving how we share intelligence, including on foreign fighters. And we will decide to appoint a coordinator to oversee NATO's efforts in the fight against terrorism," he added. (end) nk.hb