7 June 2005

NATO joins Horse Parade Opinions 07/06/2005 - NATO Remarks by Mrs. De Hoop Scheffer at the unveiling of the "NATO horse - Alliantis" at NATO Headquarters Multimedia 07/06/2005 - NATO Video file of the introduction by Jean Fournet, ASG Public Diplomacy (WMV/865Kb) 07/06/2005 - NATO Video file of the speech by Mr. and Mrs de Hoop Scheffer (WMV/3263Kb) 24/05/2005 - NATO High resolution photos of the creation 07/06/2005 - NATO High resolution photos of the unveiling 22/07/2005 - NATO NATO Horse in Liege (Belgium) Aditional links SHAPE International Band Horse Parade Belgium 2005 Its name is Alliantis and it is unlikely to win the Kentucky Derby. But this is NATO’s horse joining some 200 other decorated horse figures for the Belgian “Horse Parade 2005”. Following the success of the “Art on Cows 2003”, which saw brightly painted cows appear throughout Brussels, the organizers have decided to revive the event, this time with horses. Celebrating Belgium The initiative celebrates the 175th anniversary of the Belgian state. NATO has decided to take part, inviting students of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels, La Cambre, Brussels, to participate in a competition for the painting of the ‘NATO horse’. Alliantis, painted with the winning design, was unveiled at NATO Headquarters on 7 June 2005. In the presence of the Secretary General of NATO, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, his wife, Jeannine, presented an award to Pierre Rousteau, the winning artist. Together with Mr. Rousteau, Mrs. De Hoop Scheffer unveiled the horse. “As it happens, the Alliance has a number of very positive qualities that are also often attributed to horses – strength, reliability, adaptability. And it is that last qualification – adaptability – that perhaps best characterises NATO,” Mrs. De Hoop Scheffer said in her speech. Alliantis will remain on display at NATO Headquarters for a few days and will join the rest of the Horse Parade on 21 June, travelling to Brussels, Antwerp, Knokke, Liège and Waregem until 21 September.