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".
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