TURKEY HAGGLES FOR LIFTING VETO ON RASMUSSEN APPOINTMENT NATO CHIEF

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.04.2009 14:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Prime Minster Tayyip Erdogan said on
Saturday Turkey had dropped its opposition to appointing Dane Anders
Fogh Rasmussen as the next head of NATO after U.S. President Barack
Obama answered Ankara’s "objections".

Erdogan told Turkish television that Turkey had received "guarantees"
from Obama that one of Rasmussen’s deputies would be a Turk and that
Turkish commanders would be present at the alliance’s command.

Obama met Turkish President Abdullah Gul before NATO leaders announced
on Saturday they had agreed unanimously to appoint Fogh Rasmussen as
the next head of the alliance.

Erdogan also said that they take promises on banning Roj TV, presence
of Turkish soldiers in command echelon of NATO, presence of a Turkish
national person between deputies of NATO secretary-general, demands
on Afghanistan,

He also added that Turkey achieved its demands on Denmark’s cartoon
crisis.

"We take some permissions guaranteed by Mr Obama. After this process
our presidency permitted."

Erdogan also added that they will meet with Rasmussen in Alliance of
Civilizations meeting.

Turkish Primer also said that they take permissions on banning Roj TV,
presence of Turkish soldiers in command echelon of NATO, presence of
a Turkish national person between deputies of NATO secretary-general,
demands on Afghanistan.

Turkey had opposed Rasmussen’s bid to replace Dutchman Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer as NATO secretary-general till Saturday because of cartoon
crisis and Roj TV dispute, Anatolian news agency reported.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress