US support for the prime minister to become the next Nato secretary general appears to be waivering

A meeting of Nato in Brussels ended without agreement yesterday as the job of appointing a new secretary general was reportedly hampered by US uncertainty on whether to support Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Nato sources told Berlingske Tidende newspaper that US President Barack Obama’s administration is concerned about Turkey’s objections to Rasmussen, preferring to appease Turkey if possible, regarding it is an important ally.

The information is in contrast to last week when it was reported that the US had given Rasmussen its full backing.

Nato sources have indicated that the Obama administration is being cautious because it does not know Rasmussen well, the prime minister having built up his US contacts under former President George W. Bush.

Nato insiders have suggested that the longer the issue remains unresolved, the bleaker the chances are for Rasmussen to land the job.

But according to Associated Press, the PM is still the favourite for the job and continues to have the backing of the top European countries in Nato.

In addition, representatives from many countries have expressed irritation at Turkey’s refusal to fall in line and give the PM the nod, and they will reportedly require a final answer on the issue from Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today.

On a side note, Rasmussen’s Nato candidacy was given an artificial boost yesterday, when an article in Turkish newspaper Haber indicated Denmark was seeking to close Kurdish TV station ROJ, which broadcasts from Copenhagen.

The move turned out to be an April fool’s joke, however. Had it been true, it would have undoubtedly been popular with the Turkish government, which has criticised Rasmussen for allowing the banned station to broadcast.

Haber pulled the article after it was criticised by several groups and governments as being in bad taste.