Turkey haggles for lifting veto on Rasmussen appointment NATO chief

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.