Rasmussen wraps up talks in Turkey

At the end of a two-day visit to NATO's only predominantly Muslim member, Rasmussen also urged Turkey to allow closer security ties between the western military alliance and the European Union.

Embroiled in long-standing disputes that center on Greece and Cyprus, Turkey has, in fact, been blocking closer security cooperation between NATO and the EU. But, the lack of a security pact between NATO and the European Union, Rasmussen told a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday, endangered troops from both organisations operating in Afghanistan. "And it is a problem, Rasmussen added.

"We need to find a pragmatic solution to this problem,"

The mission in Afghanistan, the secretary general said, will last “as long as it takes” to ensure that country's security. He was now, he said, waiting for the results of a US report to determine how many more combat troops would be required.

The Turkish Foreign Minister did not make a specific pledge, but responded that Turkey, which has troops stationed in Afghanistan, had already trained nearly 2,000 Afghan security personnel.

Turkey favors closer NATO ties with Islamic world

The Turkish government on Friday urged NATO to hold a summit with the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to help expand the military alliance's relations with the Islamic world. Rasmussen , who at the outset of his visit pledged to work to boost trust between NATO and Islamic countries, agreed that dialogue must be expanded and added he would consider the proposal.

It was the former Danish prime minister's first visit to Turkey since taking office as NATO Secretary General earlier this month.

db/afp/AP/Reuters
Editor: Rick Demarest