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Building
a Transatlantic Consensus
February 20, 2003
Contact : Claire Le Goc, Media Relations Coordinator, (202)
895-1670
Washington, DC - On February 20, 2003, The European Institute
presented the Transatlantic Leadership Award to The Right
Honorable Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, the tenth Secretary
General of NATO and Chairman of the North Atlantic Council. Through
his steadfast support for the Alliance and the principles of transatlantic
cooperation and his optimism for NATO's future, he has provided
valuable guidance during this period of rising tensions and increased
security concerns.
In his remarks, Lord Robertson acknowledged that NATO's credibility was questioned
as members argued about whether to begin contingency planning to protect Turkey
from Iraqi attacks in case of war. The allies eventually came to an agreement
to send the necessary equipment to Turkey. "We were . seen to be in disarray," he
said and NATO has been damaged. However, Lord Robertson stressed that the damage
was not severe enough to sink the Alliance. He reasoned that it is the diversity
of viewpoint that ultimately strengthens the Alliance. "Despite what we share,
there will always be differences within Europe and across the Atlantic. This
is one of our enduring strengths. We can disagree while remaining firm friends
and interlocked Allies."
Lord Robertson has a long and distinguished career in public service that has
included the positions of Defense Secretary of the United Kingdom and Member
of Parliament for Hamilton (latterly Hamilton South). During his time in Parliament,
he gained notoriety as the Opposition Spokesman on Scottish Affairs and later
on Defense and Foreign Affairs. In addition, Lord Robertson is a former Chairman
of the Scottish Labour Party. Born in Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, he received
a life peerage in August 1999 and took the title Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.
Lord Robertson has been Secretary General of NATO and Chairman of the North Atlantic
Council since October 1999. Since the formation of NATO and the start of his
mandate, Lord Robertson is the first Secretary General to invoke Articles 4 and
5 of the NATO charter in response to the September 11th terrorist attack and
the military operation in Afghanistan, as well as the latest Iraqi developments.
Article 4 states: "the Parties will consult together whenever, in the
opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or
security of any of the Parties is threatened."
Article 5 states: "the Parties agree that an armed attack against one
or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against
them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each
of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense recognized
by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or
Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the
other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed
force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area. Any such
armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be
reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the
Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international
peace and security." |
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