NATO at 65: what it means to be a member

2014 is a year when NATO - and NATO members - have a lot to celebrate. Not just the 65th anniversary of the Alliance. Nor just the 15th, 10th and fifth anniversaries of members who joined since the end of the Cold War. But also cause to remember why those events were so momentous in those countries. In this edition of NATO Review, there is a look at some of the human stories of how NATO developed and what it has meant for both the elites and ordinary people.

A series of features:

+ Can you see free?
What happened to freedom in those 65 years since NATO was established? And for those too young to remember, what kind of freedoms have been protected during this time? This brief music video shows some of the best and worst moments for freedom.

+ Will NATO last another 65 years?
Lord Robertson was the NATO Secretary General on 9/11. He is the only Secretary General to have ever invoked the Alliance's Article 5. NATO Review asked him for a review of how the Alliance has done in its first 65 years - and whether it will make another 65.

+ Words of history
The day of NATO membership was a historic one for many countries who had spent decades deprived of freedom. Here we look at how their press and politicians commemorated or celebrated when the day of membership finally arrived.

+ The day I changed colour
For some, March 12, 1999 was literally living the dream. Marcela Zelníčková of NATO Review was one of those people. Here she outlines what she felt and did as her country took the step from NATO membership hopeful to full member.

+ 15 years of flying 'Mummy’s flag'
Seeing your country's flag flying outside NATO Headquarters is a badge of honour for some. It symbolises the long path to a more secure, more democratic country. For NATO's Gabriella Lurwig-Gendarme, it is also a daily reminder that membership is not just for her generation - but also for the next.

+ The West, The East, The NATO
Being a young student when Poland joined NATO, Chris Piekoszewski didn't have much of contrast to draw on with the previous regime. But he did notice that the move made a difference on a personal level - and broke down some of the tired divisions from yesterday.

+ 20 years on: Manfred Wӧrner’s impact as NATO Secretary General
The changes made by Manfred Wӧrner to the role of NATO Secretary General - from diplomatic consensus seeker to passionate advocate for action - were to have a lasting impact on the Alliance. Here, on the 20th anniversary of his death while in office, Ryan Hendrikson sets out some of the main reasons why Wӧrner deserves a special mention in NATO's history.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 14.04.14: Neutral Finland debates NATO membership option http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/neutral-finland-debates-nato-membership-option-301533

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