Hope for respect from Rutte over NATO south envoy - Tajani

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 22 - Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Monday that he hopes incoming NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will be more respectful than current NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg when it comes to the appointment of the Alliance's special envoy for its southern flank.
    Italy last week sent a letter to Stoltenberg expressing surprise and disappointment at the decision to appoint a Spaniard, Javier Colomina, to the role.
    The Italian government had lobbed hard for the creation of the position at this month's NATO summit in Washington, arguing the envoy should be an Italian.
    "I hope that the decision of the next NATO secretary general will be more balanced and respectful of Italy's requests," Tajani said as he arrived at the European Foreign Council.
    He also stressed that Colomina was appointed as "the personal envoy of the secretary general".
    This suggests a different figure could take up the role permanently when Rutte takes over as NATO secretary general on October 1.
    Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told La Stampa at the weekend that he considered Stoltenberg's decision to appoint a Spaniard "a personal affront".
    "I wrote him (Stoltenberg) a very harsh message," Crosetto said.
    "It infuriated me and there will be consequences on the level of personal relations.
    "He betrayed a principle: it was Italy that had fought to introduce the role of envoy for the Southern flank.
    "Stoltenberg didn't want it. He had to put it in the resolution because Italy wanted it and so he took revenge". (ANSA).