Atlantic Treaty Association
Encyclopedia
The Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) is an umbrella organization
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
which acts as a network facilitator in the Euro-Atlantic and beyond. The ATA draws together political leaders, academics, and diplomats in an effort to further the values set forth in the North Atlantic Treaty
North Atlantic Treaty
The North Atlantic Treaty is the treaty that brought NATO into existence, signed in Washington, D.C. on 4 April 1949. The original twelve nations that signed it and thus became the founding members of NATO were:...
- Democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, Freedom
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
, Liberty
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
, Peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
, Security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
, and the Rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
.
Since the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
, the role of the Atlantic Treaty Association has changed considerably. Following an early application for membership by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria
Atlantic Club of Bulgaria
The Atlantic Club of Bulgaria is a non-governmental, non-partisan organization dedicated to fostering the common values of the Euro-Atlantic community.- Mission :...
, in 1992 the ATA Constitution was amended to accommodate associate members and observers from non-NATO countries. Given the shifting nature of security politics, and NATO’s continued transformation, the ATA now works beyond the borders of the Euro-Atlantic – promoting new initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the South Caucasus. Following the ascension of the new NATO countries in 1999 and 2004, the ATA membership expanded considerably, and naturally its security focus has shifted eastward.
The ATA is active in NATO’s Partnership for Peace
Partnership for Peace
Partnership for Peace is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation program aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union; 22 States are members...
(PfP) and Mediterranean Dialogue programmes, as well as in directing its own initiative, the Central and South Eastern European Security Forum (CSEESF).
The Atlantic Treaty Association seeks, through discussion and political channels, to support the values set forth in the North Atlantic Treaty: Freedom, Liberty, Peace, Security, and the Rule of law. As such, the ATA acts as a forum for debate in which member associations can realize common interests and democratic goals in the ever-changing security environment of the 21st century.
The ATA is now fully dedicated to engaging the youth of the Euro-Atlantic through close cooperation with its youth division, the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA). YATA seeks to educate and promote debate amongst the successor generations in an effort to create responsible future political leaders who have an understanding of the values set forth in the North Atlantic Treaty.
The Atlantic Treaty Association firmly believes in the strength of the transatlantic relationship – one which is fundamental to the stability of the international system in the 21st century. As such, the ATA remains instrumental in bridging values from both sides of the Atlantic in its effort to underpin the broader goals of the NATO Alliance.
Presidents
2003-2008 HE Ambassador Bob HunterRobert E. Hunter
Robert Edwards Hunter is a Senior Advisor at the RAND Corporation, Arlington, Va. He was National Security Council Director of West European Affairs , Director of Middle East Affairs , and United States Ambassador to NATO...
, former US Ambassador to NATO
2008- Dr Karl A. Lamers MdB
Karl A. Lamers
Karl A. Lamers in Duisburg is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union , currently serving as Deputy Chairman of the Defence Committee of the German Parliament and as President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly....