3 1. NATO NATO is an organization of sovereign states created by the North Atlantic Treaty (treaty). 63 Stat. 2241 (1949), T.I.A.S. 1964, 34 U.N.T.S. 243. The original signatory states included the United States of America, the Kingdom of Belgium, Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. NATO was organized in order to promote stability and well- being in the North Atlantic region. The parties to the treaty seek to preserve peace and security and to unite efforts for their collective defense. Treaty Art. 2, 63 Stat. 2243. Article 9 of the treaty created the North Atlantic Council (council), a body on which each of the parties would be represented. This council is the highest decision-making body in NATO and is composed of permanent representatives appointed by each of the NATO member states. The Council created various committees which were supported by an international staff drawn from all member states. Member states entered into an additional agreement entitled the Agreement on the Status of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, National Representatives and International Staff. This agreement was signed in Ottawa, Canada, on September 29, 1951, and is referred to herein as the Ottawa Agreement. 5Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011