Rasmussen, speaking in an interview with Germany's Deutsche Welle, was quoted on Monday as saying that he wanted to visit Turkey very soon. Turkey objected to Rasmussen's appointment as NATO's new secretary-general, citing the unease in the Muslim world over his stance during the cartoon crisis of 2006. Rasmussen, who was then prime minister of Denmark at the time, backed publication of a series of cartoons insulting the Prophet Muhammad in the Danish press in the name of freedom of the press.
Rasmussen said in the interview that he was aware there were people in the Muslim world who viewed him with suspicion and promised to take concrete action to strengthen NATO's cooperation with the Muslim world.
Turkey was also unhappy with Rasmussen's appointment to the top NATO job due to disagreements with the former Danish premier over the issue of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). In 2005, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan canceled a joint press conference with Rasmussen at the last minute after Danish authorities ignored his request that a reporter from PKK-mouthpiece Roj TV be removed from the hall where the conference was due to take place.
NATO member Turkey eventually lifted its objections in April to Rasmussen's appointment, backed by the United States and most European NATO members, after receiving assurances that he would work for reconciliation with the Muslim world and appoint a Turk as his deputy. Rasmussen officially started work as the NATO secretary-general on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Rasmussen said he would "do his best" to fulfill the promises made to Turkey in April. He said he needed the backing of the member countries for this as well.
