"Broad backing" for Danish PM as next NATO chief, officials say
Hluboka Castle, Czech Republic - There is "broad consensus" within NATO that Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen should become the next head of the transatlantic alliance, Italian diplomatic sources said Friday.
"There is a general consensus among the allies on Rasmussen's name," Italian diplomats said on the sidelines of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in the Czech Republic.
Officials noted that Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini had in the past said Rasmussen would be an "excellent candidate" for the post of NATO secretary general.
Separately, in Madrid, Spanish government sources said Spain would also be backing Rasmussen, noting that he enjoyed "good relations" with the country's prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
The comments came one week before NATO leaders are expected to appoint a successor to Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at their summit in Strasbourg.
Earlier in Brussels, Turkey withdrew its threat to veto Rasmussen's candidacy because of the controversial publication of cartoons satirizing the prophet Mohammed in Denmark.
"We as Turkey don't have any attitude against the prime minister or anyone else. He is one of the most successful prime ministers in Europe," Turkish President Abdullah Gul told reporters in Brussels after talks with officials from the European Commission.
Rasmussen has repeatedly declined to comment on whether he is a candidate for the top NATO post. On Friday he said only that he was "glad" to hear Gul's remarks.
"I have always had the best relationship with Turkey and the political leaders of Turkey," said Rasmussen, who plans to attend a conference in Ankara next week. (dpa)