NATO's Stoltenberg discusses Syria, Iraq with Dutch PM

BRUSSELS, April 19 (KUNA) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the Hague Thursday and discussed the situation in Iraq, Syria and exchanged views on the preparation for NATO Summit in Brussels in July.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rutte said they discussed about the serious violation of international law in Douma, in Syria in reference to the use of chemical weapons there.
He said the military strikes by the UK, France and the US against chemical weapons installations in Syria was "understandable "and he called for renewed efforts to start the peace process on Syria in Geneva.
Rutte said "serious is the deteriorating security situation to the east and south "of the Alliance area.
"We very much support the idea of NATO getting involved in training in Iraq ,"he said, adding that "we are reviewing our support within the coalition in Iraq including in Irbil." On his part, Stoltenberg thanked Rutte "very much for what you do in Iraq, where Dutch instructors help to train Iraqi forces, help them to stabilize their own country and to fight Daesh." "Today we discussed how the Alliance shall continue to adapt to a more demanding security environment, with a more assertive Russia, but also with all the turmoil and violence that we see to the South of the Alliance," said the NATO chief.
"We cannot accept the normalization of the use of chemical weapons. We condemn their use," he stressed.
"And NATO strongly supports the efforts by the United Nations to achieve a lasting political solution to the conflict in Syria," added Stoltenberg. (end) nk.mb