BRUSSELS, February 16 (RIA Novosti) - The Danish
prime minister is the most likely candidate for the secretary
general post at NATO, a diplomatic source close to North
Atlantic bloc said on Monday.
"Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the strongest contender for the
post," the source told a RIA Novosti correspondent.
Rasmussen has rejected media speculation in the past,
saying he still has unfinished work in Denmark and was intent
on seeking a fourth term as head of government.
The term of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
expires on July 31.
Belgium's Le Soir newspaper earlier reported that Poland's
Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, along with the Danish prime
minister, who supported the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and
addressed NATO operations in Afghanistan in his New Year
speech, were the top candidates to head the military alliance.
Sikorski has also denied he plans to put himself forward
for the post of NATO secretary general.
Czech Deputy Prime Minister Aleksander Vondra, Norwegian
Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen, former Bulgarian
foreign minister Solomon Passy and two Canadian politicians,
Defense Minister Peter MacKay and former deputy premier John
Manley are also seen as potential candidates.
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