NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NATO’s 25th Summit in Chicago

20 and 21 May 2012

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The Road to Chicago – Transatlantic Ties

In the week before NATO's 25th Summit, we take you on a road trip in America

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A brief interactive introduction to the Alliance's role and activities.

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People & Activities

Afghan managers train in cyber defence 21 May. 2012 - 01 Jun. 2012 Managers of the SILK-Afghanistan project will undergo training in cyber defence at the Informatics Institute of the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey from 21 May to 1 June. The training, funded by the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, demonstrates NATO's long-term commitment to Afghanistan during the transition phase and beyond. 
Afghan helicopter-maintenance staff start training under NATO-Russia project 26 Apr. 2012 The first training course for ten Afghan helicopter-maintenance staff got underway at the OAO Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair Plant on 1 April 2012. The 90-day course is taking place in the framework of the Helicopter Maintenance Trust Fund project, which was launched by the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) in April 2011 to build capacity in the Afghan Air Force (AAF) to operate its helicopter fleet more effectively. 
NATO Trust Fund projects clear dangerous munitions in Azerbaijan 24 Apr. 2012 Jeyranchel, in northeastern Azerbaijan covers an area of about 62 square kilometres just along the Georgian border. It was also the site of a live firing range, used from 1955 until 1991 by the former Soviet Army. Now the range lies abandoned and unused, with unexploded munitions littering the ground around it. 
Deputy Secretary General addresses NATO-Russia Council role-play at Moscow University 17 Apr. 2012 A large number of students gathered at the Moscow State Linguistic University (MSLU) for a NATO-Russia Council (NRC) role-play event organised by the university with the support of the NATO Information Office (NIO) in Russia. The model NRC attracted students from MSLU as well as from other Moscow universities to this year’s event held on 17 April. 
NATO-funded programme helps Kyrgyz military personnel transition to civilian life 11 Apr. 2012 Helping military personnel facing redundancy adapt to civilian life is a constant problem faced by the Kyrgyz Armed Forces as they undergo reform. With skills that do not always easily translate into the civilian labour market, life after the armed services can be difficult for those searching for a job. However, a three year-old NATO-funded retraining and resettlement programme is helping to mitigate the socio-economic consequences of the defence restructuring. 
Afghan opinion-makers discuss transition with high-level NATO officials 30 Mar. 2012 On 29 and 30 March, a group of opinion-makers from Afghanistan visited NATO Headquarters. The group included Members of Parliament, representatives of the Afghan media and civil society, and independent activists. During the visit, the Afghan delegation met with a range of high-level NATO officials, including Ambassador Kolinda Grabar, Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, Ms. Oana Lungescu, NATO Spokesperson, and General Knud Bartels, Chairman of the Military Committee. 
NATO conference discusses women, peace and security in the Middle East and North Africa 28 Mar. 2012 - 29 Mar. 2012 Leading NATO officials and female representatives from Tunisia, Jordan, Libya, Yemen, Morocco and Rwanda discussed progress made in promoting the role of women in peace and security at a conference from 28-29 March. 
NATO and Russia seek to strengthen cooperation to counter piracy 27 Mar. 2012 NATO and Russia agree that countering piracy is a common security challenge and have agreed to explore ways to strengthen cooperation in this area under the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) Work Programme for 2012. Building on limited military tactical cooperation off the Horn of Africa, they are seeking to strengthen information exchange and coordination and considering possible mutual support, such as refuelling and medical assistance, for ships involved in counter-piracy operations. 
NATO and Mongolia agree programme of cooperation 19 Mar. 2012 The North Atlantic Council formally approved an Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme with Mongolia on 19 March 2012. This formalizes and further develops relations, building on existing operational cooperation Afghanistan and, earlier, in Kosovo. 
''NATO Corner'' opens in the Anna Lindh Library Stockholm 08 Mar. 2012 A new depository library for NATO publications has opened in the Anna Lindh Library in Stockholm, Sweden. The “NATO Corner” is the result of an initiative by the Swedish Defence College and the Anna Lindh Library, in collaboration with the NATO Multimedia Library in Brussels, Belgium. It is the only NATO depository library in the nordic region and the first of its kind to be set up in a western partner country of NATO. 
NATO launches new online communication tool in the run up to Chicago 05 Mar. 2012 On 5 March, NATO launched a new interactive web platform called WE-NATO. 
Young professionals in foreign policy debate with NATO 07 Mar. 2012 As part of its engagement with young people, NATO partnered with the Brussels branch of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP) on Wednesday 7 March to discuss Turkey’s 60 years in the Alliance. 
Women's rights: making progress in Afghanistan 07 Mar. 2012 In the run up to International Women's day, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Kolinda Grabar held an exchange of views with Afghan women from the National Assembly, the Afghan National Army, and the media.  
NATO seminar highlights smart energy projects 05 Mar. 2012 With the international financial crisis affecting the defence budgets of Allies in unprecedented ways, a sustained effort must be made to spend limited resources more effectively and efficiently. 

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NATO Review

NATO Chicago Summit special edition 15 May. 2012 This edition represents several firsts. For NATO, it is the first time it has held a Summit in North America this century. For NATO Review, it is the first time we have produced a tablet version of the magazine, available when the Summit begins. And it is also the first time we have the President of the United States writing for us. Here, we present his views, along with other high level contributors on what Chicago could mean for the future of NATO and the "TransAtlantic" security.  
Chicago: right city, right time 15 May. 2012 NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, explains why he feels there is no better place than Chicago for celebrating the bond between North America and Europe. 
Message from President Obama 15 May. 2012 US President Barack Obama welcomes NATO to Chicago, his hometown. Here he describes how important the Alliance has been for our common security, our freedom and our prosperity for the past 63 years. 
Afghanistan snapshot: how the experts see it 15 May. 2012 Four prominent Afghans give their views on the country’s elections, priorities, women’s rights and fight against corruption. 
Mr TransAtlantic 15 May. 2012 Ivo Daalder, US Ambassador to NATO, has crossed many divides. From being a European to an American, an academic to a diplomat - and more. Here he explains how it’s helped him at NATO. 
Standing in line: what NATO means to me 15 May. 2012 Stanislava Mladenova has spent half her life in Europe, half in the US. Here she describes the role NATO has played in bringing the strands together. 
From Cronkite to Korea: lessons learned 15 May. 2012 Alexander Vershbow, NATO Deputy Secretary General, talks about coming back to NATO again – and what he learnt on his travels. 
The US: at the heart of NATO since day 1 15 May. 2012 NATO was created by a treaty signed in Washington, DC in 1949. As NATO returns to the US 63 years later for its Chicago Summit, NATO Review highlights some of the key moments of the shared history of the Alliance and its biggest member. 
How well do you really know NATO? 15 May. 2012 This 10 question quiz will find out how well you know the Alliance. 
Václav Havel: remembering the big little man 15 May. 2012 Czech Minister of Defence, Alexandr Vondra, remembers one of Europe’s and NATO’s political giants, Václav Havel. 
Mission impossible? 15 May. 2012 US bloggers, journalists and communications experts reveal how they would try to bring NATO closer to the US public. 
Social media and NATO: it's complicated 15 May. 2012 The US is the home of social media. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and many others were born there. So could social media be the means that brings NATO closer to US people? We asked a number of communications experts what progress they feel has been made - and what more needs to be done. 
NATO Summit 2012: what does it mean to Chicago 15 May. 2012 NATO Review asked the Governor of State of Ilinois, Pat Quinn, about Chicago's preparations for the NATO's 2012 Summit, how the Alliance is perceived in the city and why Chicago represents the best backdrop for NATO's first Summit in North America this century. 
Two decades of NATO operations: Taking stock, looking ahead 15 May. 2012 NATO’s Diego A. Ruiz Palmer analyses the 20 years of NATO operations that started in 1992 – and looks at how the ones over the next 20 years may look. 
Inside out: a different perspective 15 May. 2012 Italian Minister of Defence, Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, talks about switching from being at the heart of an international alliance to a minister in a national government. 
Smart Defence 04 Apr. 2012 Smart Defence is 'learning by doing'. But, with budgets down and risks up, the learning has to start soon. NATO Review looks into what this could mean for everyone. 
Smart Defence - the political angle 04 Apr. 2012 How does NATO's top brass see the Smart Defence project? How much do they see the difficulties, opportunities and importance of it? NATO Review asked NATO's Deputy Secretary General - and Smart Defence envoy - Ambassador Alexander Vershbow to find out. 
Smart Defence - the parliamentary angle 04 Apr. 2012 Smart Defence will suffer if it doesn't get the national parliaments to sign up to it. So how is the project seen in these nations? NATO Review asked NATO Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General David Hobbs for his view.  
Smart Defence: what does it mean? 30 Mar. 2012 When it comes to explaining Smart Defence, there's probably nobody more qualified than Ludwig Decamps. He heads up NATO's Smart Defence team. Here NATO Review quizzes him on what the project means, how it could work and why it's important. 
Smart Defence: the economic angle 30 Mar. 2012 Smart Defence is not all about the economy. But the economic crisis has certainly played its part. How does the economic landscape look now. And what effect could this have on the development of Smart Defence. NATO Review asks NATO's Senior Defence Economist for his insights. 
Smart Defence: the analyst's view 30 Mar. 2012 How do those outside see Smart Defence? And do they see it working? Dr Bastian Giegerich of the International Institute for Security Studies has already written a brief paper analysing Smart Defence. Here NATO Review asks him about the main points. 
Smart Defence for Greece and Turkey? 30 Mar. 2012 How easy would it be for two very different neighbours to engage in Smart Defence? One has economic problems while the other has growing influence in the region. Greek and Turkish analysts look at how and if this could work? 
Greece and Turkey: 60 years in NATO 22 Feb. 2012 2012 marks 60 years since Turkey and Greece joined NATO in 1952. In this edition of NATO Review, we gauge how the countries have changed in the last six decades, we look at their relationship with each other and ask where their security outlooks lay now. 
Greece and NATO: a long lasting relationship 22 Feb. 2012 The Alternate Minister of National Defence of Greece, Yiannis Ragoussis, tells NATO Review how important NATO is for Greece, as well as about his country’s active membership in NATO. 
The Way Forward: Sixty years from the accession of Greece and Turkey to NATO 22 Feb. 2012 Dr Marina Skordeli analyses the strategic importance and location of Greece and Turkey and how each country derives its significance from different considerations and threat assessments. 
Greece: what 60 years in NATO means 16 Feb. 2012 What did it feel like to join NATO in 1952? Here we ask, among other experts, someone who was there. Vice-Admiral Vasilios Mitsakos recounts how Greece joining the young NATO Alliance meant spending more time with international counterparts. And how even babysitting duties drew countries together... 
Turkey: interview with Defence Minister Yilmaz 16 Feb. 2012 NATO Review interviews Turkish Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz about smart defence, Turkish foreign policy and what being in NATO for 60 years means. 
Turkey: what 60 years in NATO means 16 Feb. 2012 Does NATO have a role to play in Turkey's new stronger foreign policy outlook? Does the Turkish public see NATO as necessary? Here we ask Turkish journalists and analysts to describe how they feel NATO looks from a Turkish perspective. 
Greece and NATO: view from the next generation 16 Feb. 2012 What do young Greeks feel about NATO? Do they know - or care - what it is for? Here we ask three young Greek students how they see NATO's past, present and future. 
The historic document confirming Greece and Turkey joining NATO 16 Feb. 2012 Here we reprint the 'Resolution on the accession of Greece and Turkey to the North Atlantic Treaty', signed in 1952. 
2012 security predictions 23 Jan. 2012 Who last January could have predicted that three dictators who had all ruled their countries for over 20 years would be thrown out by their people in a matter of months? Who could have foreseen a rogue nuclear state falling under the control of a young man in his mid-20s? The answer is nobody. But in this edition, we ask experts to shine a light on what they think could be waiting in 2012.  
e-Power to rise up the security agenda 23 Jan. 2012 Joseph Nye outlines how the cyberworld has created changes in power: e-Power. And it is a world where everyone is seemingly equal - but some are more equal than others. Here he outlines how this could develop in 2012. 
Climate, disease and food - a lot still to do 23 Jan. 2012 In 2012, the issue that we make the least progress on – but lament at length about – will remain global warming. Campaigners will continue to use doomsday language to try to hustle for faster action. Climate change negotiators will continue to dress up their failures as victories. 
2012: welcome to the gridlocked world 23 Jan. 2012 This year is in many ways "back to the future" for NATO. As during the Cold War, the Alliance’s greatest challenges in 2012 will come not from the risk of attack but from the extent and consequences of shifts in the nature of global power. 
Crime, computers and security in 2012 23 Jan. 2012 What's going to happen in 2012? Some things are easy to see: we'll see more attacks by criminals. We'll see more attacks by hactivists (like the infamous Anonymous group). But most importantly, we'll see that many of the future real-world crisis will have a cyber element in them as well. Certainly, any future war between technically developed nations is likely to incorporate computer attacks.  
2011 in pictures 23 Jan. 2012 We don't know what 2012 will bring. But we do know that 2011 was one of the most eventful years this century. In this photostory, we show some of the main changes the world saw over the past 12 months and what they meant for security. 
Mladic, Srebrenica and justice 19 Dec. 2011 In November 1995, Ratko Mladic was indicted for the genocide in Srebenica. He had overseen operations just four months earlier which had led to the deaths of around 8,000 men and boys. In announcing the indictment, the judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia added that Srebrenica saw 'scenes from hell, written on the darkest pages of human history". Today, Mladic faces justice in the same building where those words were uttered. NATO Review asks what difference this will make to the victims' families and the region. And whether this marks a milestone in the history of the Western Balkans. 
Mladic, justice and 2011: view from Croatia 19 Dec. 2011 2011 marked a major year for Croatia. NATO Review speaks to its President on the day that it confirmed its entry into the European Union and asks whether 2011 is the year when there is more to discuss on the Western Balkans' future than to mull over its past. 
Mladic, justice and 2011: view from Serbia 19 Dec. 2011 For Serbia, 2011 has marked the year when it met its last obligations to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. Its path to the EU can now run much more smoothly. But as Serbian politicians point out, the country is now more focused on getting back to its former role of regional powerhouse in the Balkans.  
View from the region 19 Dec. 2011 How do the countries of the former Yugoslavia see the events of 2011, including the arrest of General Ratko Mladic? NATO Review interviews key players from the region to find out. 
Mladic, Srebrenica and justice 06 Dec. 2011 With the trial of Ratko Mladic for genocide taking place in the Hague, NATO Review looks at the events in Srebrenica in July 1995, talks to survivors and asks whether Mladic's arrest finally means the region can look forward, not backwards. 
Karadzic: from Sarajevo to the Hague (Aug 2008) 06 Dec. 2011 NATO Review analyses why Karadzic was arrested, the impact on Bosnia and how his trial could affect the country's future. 
Bosnia, a new model army? (Aug 2008) 06 Dec. 2011 Bosnia's armed forces are now seen as genuine security providers - and far from a security threat. How did this happen? 
NATO's relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina - part I: Building peace (Dec 2010) 06 Dec. 2011 BUILDING PEACE tells of NATO's gradual engagement in support of United Nations' efforts to end the Bosnian War (1992-1995) and the deployment of its first peacekeeping force in December 1995. NATO's mission continued for nine years until responsibility for security was handed over to the European Union in December 2004. 
NATO's relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina - part II: Reforming the military (Dec 2010) 06 Dec. 2011 REFORMING THE MILITARY shows how NATO's support for essential defence reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina has helped downsize the armed forces and turn them into a single military force under state-level control. Progress made allowed the country to join NATO's Partnership for Peace in 2006. 
NATO's relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina - part III: The road to integration (Dec 2010) 06 Dec. 2011 THE ROAD TO INTEGRATION highlights the country's deepening partnership with NATO and provides an insight into the challenges ahead on the road to the country's possible membership of the Alliance. 

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