Italy is backing former foreign minister Franco Frattini as Nato's next secretary general, the country's current top diplomat said Saturday. Frattini "has all the right characteristics to be the best possible secretary general of the alliance in years that are expected to be difficult and full of challenges," Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said.
He spoke after several Italian newspapers reported that Frattini's candidacy had been officially presented at a Nato ambassadors' meeting in Brussels on Wednesday. At the meeting, Nato's current secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister, asked for an extension of his mandate, which expires in July 2013, diplomatic sources told dpa.
According to the sources, Rasmussen's term would be extended by a year, allowing him to see through Nato's withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan and giving him a chance to put his name forward for one of the top EU jobs which are due to be allocated in 2014. Italy would then like Frattini to take over Rasmussen's position. His appointment needs unanimous backing from all 28 Nato member countries. A decision - in which the US is expected to have the biggest say - is not expected soon.
One source suggested that Rome also has a back-up candidate, namely Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola, a former chief of staff who until last year was one of Nato's top military officials. Frattini served as foreign minister under Silvio Berlusconi's governments from 2002 to 2004 and from 2008 to 2011. He was European Union commissioner for justice and home affairs during 2004-2008.
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