Officials said that Turkey’s strong objections had been overcome after U.S. president Barack Obama spoke to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister.
Mr. Sarkozy spoke warmly of Turkey.
Asked if Mr. Obama’s addition of 21,000 U.S. soldiers to the Afghan war might mean an increase of American influence in NATO, Mr. Sarkozy pointed to Mr. Rasmussen’s election, adding that the results of the meetings were what European leaders were looking for.
“I didn’t realize that Mr. Rasmussen was an American,” said Mr. Sarkozy. “He’s deeply European”
I bet that one was a real wink-wink, nudge-nudge session.