Ankara vetoes ex-Austrian FM's candıdacy to head OSCE

Ankara has vetoed the candidacy of former Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik to be the secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), citing concerns about her stance on Turkey. "We have notified not only Austria but also Lithuania [the OSCE's rotating president] that it is impossible for us to accept a person who questions our European identity as the secretary-general of such an important international organization," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a weekend TV interview. Turkey's move was not a veto of Austria, Davutoglu said, adding that Austria had nominated a candidate who does not support an inclusive European identity. Plassnik said in 2008 that Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, should consider a relationship with the European Union short of full membership.