Erdoğan opposes Dane PM NATO bid

Hürriyet Daily News with wires

Erdoğan said Rasmussen's unwillingness to stop broadcasts by Roj TV, which Ankara calls a mouthpiece for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and his stance during the 2006 crisis over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed cast doubts on his ability to lead the alliance.

"On this issue, we don't want NATO to be weakened," the Associated Press quoted Erdoğan as saying at a news conference at the Chatham House think tank in London, where he attended the G20 summit.

"NATO is an organization whose duties are to ensure peace," Erdoğan said. "But the mouthpiece of the terror organization in my country is broadcasting from Denmark. I wrote to Mr. Rasmussen four years ago, but he did not do anything."

Erdoğan also criticized Rasmussen's attitude during the crisis over the publication of the Prophet Mohammed cartoons.

"How can those who made no contribution to peace at that time contribute to peace now?" Erdoğan asked. "This raises question marks."

"This is my personal opinion. I look at [his candidacy] negatively," Erdoğan added.

President Abdullah Gül, who will be representing Turkey at a two-day NATO summit starting Friday, dismissed the reported split in the top state cadre over the Danish leader's candidacy.

"Turkey's view on the issue is unanimous," Gül told reporters before leaving for the summit. He was accompanied by the country's foreign and defense ministers. "What is important for us is a strong NATO that can carry out its functions in the best way possible."

NATO leaders were to discuss choosing a new secretary-general at the summit in France and Germany. Gül would not say if Turkey would block Rasmussen's bid.

Last weekend, Erdoğan said in a televised interview that he was against Rasmussen’s bid, adding that the leaders of some Muslim nations had asked him to block the Danish leader from assuming the top spot at NATO. But in statements seeming to contradict the Turkish premier, Gül told reporters that religion should not be highlighted in Turkey’s foreign policy, sparking rumors of conflicting views.

Some NATO members are asking privately whether Rasmussen would be the best choice at a time when the alliance is seeking to improve its image in the Islamic world. Other contenders for the post are Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and former British Defense Secretary Des Browne. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski pulled himself out of the running Friday.