Minister Miroslav Lajčák (source: SITA)
Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák is a serious candidate for the post of NATO deputy secretary general, the Denník N daily reported.
The post is currently held by Rose Gottemoeller of the United States, but her replacement will be discussed in the following months.
Several sources from Slovak and foreign diplomacy, as well as the Defence Ministry and NATO, have confirmed for Denník N. that Lajčák is among the most serious candidates for the post. Among the countries that would like to win the post is Estonia.
“In the past, the secretary general received the name upon the agreement of the member states,” a NATO diplomat told Denník N.
The post used to be held by Italians and then Americans, but they are not interested in it anymore.
No official comments
“Mr Lajčák has been mentioned in connection with several important international organisations, which is an appreciation of his work as head of Slovak diplomacy within the international community,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry responded, as quoted by Denník N. “We don’t see a reason for commenting on this information.”
