From Kathimerini: Recently appointed NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen begins a trip to Greece and Turkey today just hours after saying that the tension between the two countries is hampering the alliance’s efforts in Afghanistan and in the Horn of Africa.

Speaking on a video blog on NATO’s website, Rasmussen said that he would attempt to broach the subject of troubled relations between Athens and Ankara during his visit, which will last until Friday.

“We have come to the point where it is causing us problems in our missions. In Afghanistan, NATO cannot conclude an agreement to support EU police,” he said.

“Off the Horn of Africa, both NATO and the EU have [naval] missions in the same area against piracy but we have no agreement on who will do what or how to support each other.

That is just two examples of how these problems have spread far beyond Turkey and Greece.”