The Polish government has official announced that they will not formally nominate Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski for the post of Secretary General of NATO.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the Lower House of Parliament (Sejm) today that while Sikorski has been “taken into very serious consideration for the position to replace [Dutchman] Jaap de Hoop Scheffer,” we will not be nominating the head of Polish diplomacy for that position.
The position for the next NATO secretary general is one of many topics which will be discussed at the NAT) 60 year summit in France and Germany on Saturday.
Tusk told parliament NATO members will have the opportunity to officially nominated candidates in Strasbourg and Baden-Baden, though Canada has already officially put up Peter MacKay, the country’s defense minister.
“The nomination and selection process is a very unusual, delicate game,” Tusk told the MPs. Others have described the mysterious process as being similar to choosing the next pope.
Tusk added that Poland is being represented at the summit by President Lech Kaczynski, Defense Minister Bogdan Klich and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski at the celebratory NATO Summit.
Poland is, in a way, in his [President Kaczynski’s] hands,” stated PM Tusk, adding that he does not want to blame the entire outcome on the President if things do not go Poland’s way, however.
Polish media began speculating last year about Sikorski’s chances to become the next Secretary General of NATO, but he has been criticized for publicly displaying anti-Russian sentiments, especially important at a time when NATO has just decided to revitalize relations with the eastern bear.
Many will see the government’s declaration that they will not be nominating Sikorski as a damage limitation exercise, as his chances of actually getting the post were slim.
Favourite to get the job remains Denmark’s acting prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen (mmj/pg)