Wikileaks - 09COPENHAGEN206

SECRET//NOFORN
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB 
DE RUEHCP #0206/01 1240745
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 040745Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4928
INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

Politiken har udeladt seks punkter fra dette referat. Alle udeladte punkter drejer sig om emner uden forbindelse til ROJ-TV

SIPDIS 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2019 
TAGS: PREL, NATO, MOPS, DA 
SUBJECT: NATO SYG-DESIGNATE EAGER TO BEGIN NEEDED REFORMS 
Classified By: Charge Terence McCulley, reasons 1.4b,d 

1.(C) Summary: In a two-hour working luncheon April 30 with 
visiting U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker, former Danish 
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen underscored his 
determination to reform the NATO Alliance as its next 
Secretary General and transform it into a more dynamic and 
effective organization. Rasmussen reviewed his thinking on 
the new Strategic Concept, headquarters reform and staffing, 
early implementation of Strasbourg Summit decisions and 
efforts to strengthen NATO´s public diplomacy. Ambassador 
Volker indicated full U.S. support for aggressive reform, 
urging the SYG-designate to be bold in his approach. 
Rasmussen emphasized the need for confirmation of greater SYG 
control over resources and staff in order to effect such 
reforms. With Rasmussen and separately with Danish 
officials, Ambassador Volker reviewed Turkish concerns about 
Rasmussen´s appointment. End summary. 

2. (C) NATO Secretary General-designate Rasmussen conveyed 
his appreciation to President Obama and General Jones for 
U.S. support of his candidacy, acknowledging its challenges 
but also emphasizing his personal dedication to the 
transatlantic relationship. Rasmussen signaled that he is 
already at work on his transition, with a small office at the 
Danish MFA and ongoing informal consultations (including with 
current Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on May 4). 
Throughout the conversation, Rasmussen made clear that he is 
keen to get to work and that he intends to move decisively to 
reinvigorate NATO. 

3. XXXXX

4. XXXXX

5. XXXXX

6. XXXXX

7. XXXXX

8. (C) Rasmussen observed that overcoming Turkish opposition 
to his appointment had been difficult, but reported that he 
had met with Turkish PM Erdogan two days after the NATO 
Summit and that there no longer any issues between them. 
Ambassador Volker explained that we had heard complaints from 
the Turks on a number of issues related to follow-through on 
the discussions at Strasbourg, including Roj-TV, NATO ASG and 
flag officer positions, and Rasmussen´s public remarks in 
Istanbul. Rasmussen allowed that he had not been in touch 
with Turks recently, but both he and PM national security 
advisor Thomas Ahrenkiel (in a separate conversation) 
maintained that these issues are being addressed. Ahrenkiel 
acknowledged that he should follow up quietly with his 
Turkish counterpart. 

9. (C) On Roj-TV, both Rasmussen and Ahrenkiel said that 
action must remain within law enforcement and intelligence 
channels, and welcomed the proposed visit of S/CT officials 
to Copenhagen review the case and discuss strategy. 
Rasmussen noted that President Obama had indicated to him 
clear understanding for Denmark´s position that it must 
follow its own laws in the matter. Regarding NATO 
appointments, the Assistant Secretary General position would 
have to wait until Rasmussen is in place, but it could be 
helpful if the U.S. were to propose the slot, Rasmussen said. 
On the flag officer billet, Ambassador Volker confirmed that 
we have already offered the Turks a one-star position through 
military channels. Rasmussen noted that his speech at the 
Istanbul Alliance of Civilizations event (praised by both the 
Turkish MFA spokesman and the Turkish ambassador to NATO) had 
been unfortunately cut short by the event organizers and was 
never delivered in full. 

10. XXXXX

11. (U) This message has been cleared by Ambassador Volker. 

MCCULLEY