The PM’s visit to Europe resulted in further speculation from European leaders regarding the Nato vacancy
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen continued to shrug off the rumours of his possible candidacy for the post of Nato Secretary General on his lightning quick European tour yesterday.
Rasmussen was meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discuss the upcoming climate conference, the financial crisis and the military efforts in Afghanistan.
The prime minister is the only current government leader of a Nato member country that has been linked with the post. Polish foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, and former Bulgarian foreign minister Solomon Passy are the only publicly declared candidates for the Nato job.
Merkel told the press she was not prepared to join the speculation about the successor to current secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
‘There have been discussions and there will be more, but they are naturally confidential,’ said Merkel.
In London, Rasmussen repeated his mantra that he will not answer hypothetical questions about job opportunities, but did say that the person who will take the Nato top post in August should be more than just a diplomat.
‘The future Nato Secretary General must outwardly be a distinctive spokesperson and inwardly, they must be a central figure for change, so that the Nato countries can collectively support the important mission in Afghanistan, among other things,’ said Rasmussen.
Nato deployed the International Security Assistance Force to Afghanistan in 2003 and there are currently around 30,000 international troops taking part in the Nato led mission.
Meanwhile a senior Nato diplomat, with knowledge of the current deliberations for the post, told Berlingske Tidende newspaper that time is running out to choose a new secretary general.
‘If we are to be on target before the Nato summit [at the start of April], then the field of candidates must begin to break down pretty quickly,’ said the source, who added that it is likely a name will be chosen before then.
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen continued to shrug off the rumours of his possible candidacy for the post of Nato Secretary General on his lightning quick European tour yesterday.
Rasmussen was meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discuss the upcoming climate conference, the financial crisis and the military efforts in Afghanistan.
The prime minister is the only current government leader of a Nato member country that has been linked with the post. Polish foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, and former Bulgarian foreign minister Solomon Passy are the only publicly declared candidates for the Nato job.
Merkel told the press she was not prepared to join the speculation about the successor to current secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
‘There have been discussions and there will be more, but they are naturally confidential,’ said Merkel.
In London, Rasmussen repeated his mantra that he will not answer hypothetical questions about job opportunities, but did say that the person who will take the Nato top post in August should be more than just a diplomat.
‘The future Nato Secretary General must outwardly be a distinctive spokesperson and inwardly, they must be a central figure for change, so that the Nato countries can collectively support the important mission in Afghanistan, among other things,’ said Rasmussen.
Nato deployed the International Security Assistance Force to Afghanistan in 2003 and there are currently around 30,000 international troops taking part in the Nato led mission.
Meanwhile a senior Nato diplomat, with knowledge of the current deliberations for the post, told Berlingske Tidende newspaper that time is running out to choose a new secretary general.
‘If we are to be on target before the Nato summit [at the start of April], then the field of candidates must begin to break down pretty quickly,’ said the source, who added that it is likely a name will be chosen before then.
