Danish PM to visit Istanbul, Turkey signals no obstacle to NATO posting

Rasmussen, firm favorite to take over NATO's top civilian post in August, will attend on April 6-7 an Istanbul meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative aimed at fostering dialogue between the West and Muslim countries, according to sources.

Rasmussen was harshly criticized among Muslims worldwide for refusing to apologize for the publication of a cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammad with a bomb in his turban by a Danish newspaper in 2005. The cartoon, which sparked riots and attacks on Danish embassies in several Muslim states, was defended by Western governments in the name of freedom of expression.

Recent media reports had suggested Turkey could veto the choice of Rasmussen as successor to NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer of the Netherlands at the alliance's 60th anniversary summit next week, because the Dane is ill suited to win hearts and minds in the Muslim world.

Ankara has also repeatedly criticized Denmark for failing to revoke the broadcasting license of a television station which Turkey says is a mouthpiece for the terror organization PKK.Â

The Turkish president suggested however on Friday that his country would not block the nomination of Rasmussen as next head of the NATO military alliance.

"We do not have any attitude against the prime minister or anyone else on that matter. He is one of the most important and one of the most successful prime ministers in Europe," Gul was quoted by AFP as telling reporters in Brussels where he met top EU officials.

"I don’t think we should talk so much about the religious dimensions because those create divisions," he said when asked whether a person with good ties to the Muslim world should be chosen.