Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Ottawa, Monday March 23, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Adrian Wyld <\/p>\n
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By Murray Brewster, The Canadian Press <\/p>\n
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper and NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg met behind closed doors Monday to discuss the war in Iraq and the crisis in Ukraine. <\/p>\n
The meeting came just a day ahead of the planned introduction of a parliamentary motion to extend and expand Canada's combat mission against extremists in Iraq and possibly Syria. <\/p>\n
Sources tell The Canadian Press that Harper will introduce the motion Tuesday morning. <\/p>\n
Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway who became the alliance's secretary general last year, said the alliance is engaged in the troubled region despite having no formal role in the U.S-led coalition. <\/p>\n
\"NATO is also doing lots to fight and to try to work with partners in the region to stabilize them,\" Stoltenberg said during a photo-op with Harper, Defence Minister Jason Kenney and Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson ahead of the meeting. <\/p>\n
\"Because if you are able to make the Middle East more stable, we will become more secure.\" <\/p>\n
Stoltenberg praised Canada's contribution in Iraq and to NATO's reassurance missions in eastern Europe, which have included fighter jets, the deployment of a frigate and ground troops on a training exercise. <\/p>\n
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Harper talks Ukraine, ISIL with NATO chief<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Ottawa, Monday March 23, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Adrian Wyld image credit: By Murray Brewster, The Canadian Press OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper and NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg met behind closed doors Monday to discuss the war in Iraq and the crisis in Ukraine Continue reading