Turkish candidate close to NATO post

A Turkish diplomat is expected to be appointed to one of two vacant NATO deputy secretary-general posts in Brussels. Huseyin Dirioz, currently the top foreign policy adviser to the Turkish president, is believed to be the frontrunner for the post. In addition to Dirioz, three other Turkish diplomats have also been mentioned as candidates. Sources close to NATO say chances are high that Dirioz will be appointed to the post "given Turkey's close relations with different cultures." They also say Dirioz, who formerly held a position at NATO, is well-suited for this post, and it would not be a surprise to see him appointed. The idea of appointing a Turk to the post dates back to Turkey's objection to current NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen's appointment to his post last year. The row was only resolved after Turkey was promised senior NATO military command posts and the role of the alliance's deputy secretary-general.