Turkey’s President Abduallah Gul fired back at criticism from some European officials over Ankara’s initial blocking of the efforts of Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to become NATO’s president.

[Das Spiegel.]

Turkey had refused Rasmussen’s appointment due to his handling of the Prophet Muhammad cartoons controversy, but later supported Rasmussen after personal intervention from American President Barack Obama to assure Turkey that a Turk will be appointed one of Rasmussen’s deputies.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn both criticized Turkey’s for its initial stand. Rasmussen was strongly supported by the United States, Germany and France.

President Gul interrupted his English translator to state on his on behalf [in English, of course] that European criticism of Turkey’s increasing prominence in Europe and NATO politics was unfounded and breeding resentment in Turkey.

It’s very dangerous and it’s making us disturbed,” the president stated.

President Gul reminded his audience that since 1952 Turkey has been one of the most active members of NATO [it maintains the alliances second largest armed forces] and a large contributor. “During the cold war period Turkey spent its own resources for the defence of Europe. This should be appreciated,” President Gul stated. He may have added that Turkey was a founding member of NATO.

The president added, “We did not engage in blackmail nor did we have an irrational request. We acted in a rational, logical and modern way, with the compromise which is a European culture.”

Turkey’s president is entirely right. It seems to me that European resentment of Turkey’s opposition to Rasmussen is due not to merit, but just an elitist European resentment that a nation like Turkey would have the temerity to make its voice heard. The fact that some European nations have trouble with a vocal Turkey, speaks to the fact that Turkey’s bid to join the European Union will be an arduous, if not for the time impossible, task.