Italy backs Rutte for NATO S-G says Tajani

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 4 - Italy is backing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become the next secretary general of NATO succeeding Jens Stoltenberg whose term is set to end, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday.
    "We spoke yesterday about the next secretary general and we reiterated our position, which is in favour of the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte," Tajani said on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting.
    "There is a broad majority in his favour but we'll have to wait for the responses of Turkey, Romania and Hungary, who are backing the candidacy of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis," he went on.
    "But I hope we can find an agreement". (ANSA).