 When
my predecessor Paul-Henri Spaak launched NATO Review
at the end of the 1950s, he did so because he believed
in the power of ideas, the importance of debate in
decision-making, and the benefits of critical analysis.
He was, of course, absolutely right, and in the context
of the Cold War, NATO Review became an important forum
for exploring new approaches to addressing the very
clear security challenges of the day.
More than 40 years later, the Euro-Atlantic
security environment has changed almost beyond recognition.
Today, we face a greater variety of security challenges
— from crisis management, to peacekeeping, to proliferation
and terrorism. We also have new opportunities to build
peace and security right across the Euro-Atlantic area,
through creative and focused partnership and cooperation.
As a result, the need for fresh ideas, for open discussion
and quality research is, if anything, greater than ever.
That is why we have updated and revamped NATO Review.
Of course, the new NATO Review will still contribute
to a constructive discussion of Atlantic issues, and
continue to provide a forum for a mature, democratic
debate and an exchange of ideas. That will not change.
But the updated NATO Review will focus on the security
issues of today and tomorrow in an even more challenging
way, to contribute significantly to international discussion
and decision- making. It will also have a more reader-friendly
lay-out. You have the first edition of the revamped
NATO Review in your hand. I hope you enjoy it.
This issue of NATO Review is a most
appropriate one in which to make improvements and adaptations.
It com-memorates the fifth anniversary of the deployment
of NATO’s first peacekeeping mission — an
operation that fundamentally transformed the Alliance
and its role in Euro-Atlantic security. And while the
Alliance has grown to take on a variety of new missions
and roles since then, contributing to the stability
and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a vital
mission for NATO. In the five years since the NATO-led
force first deployed into Bosnia, much has changed for
the better, and there has been no return to hostilities.
But as we enter the 21st century, the answers to complex
and long-term problems have sometimes proved elusive,
and it is increasingly important to analyse these problems
openly, in order to find lasting solutions. I am confident
that you will find that this edition of the NATO Review
makes an important contribution to this vital discussion.
Lord Robertson
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