Intro

He who evolves himself, endures.

— Rainis

For Latvia, these words of wisdom from the legendary Latvian poet Rainis offer a fitting motto for the 2006 NATO Summit. The ability to anticipate, adjust and adapt to change has been a Baltic trait for thousands of years. It serves as sound advice to those who must meet the challenges that face transatlantic security today.

The goal of NATO has always been to guarantee the security and independence of its member states, while extending that security to neighboring countries. The ability of NATO to prevent crises and conflicts depends on NATO's capacity to respond to an ever-changing global security environment.

The enduring democratic values that NATO member states seek to protect must be viewed as a renewable resource. Freedom cannot be taken for granted and those who wish to preserve it must continuously transform themselves and their security structures to meet all and any threats to that freedom.

Latvia has endured as a nation because it has successfully risen to the challenges and demands of a constantly changing geopolitical environment. It is for this reason that Latvia joined NATO in 2004 and has been an active contributor to NATO security activities.

That's why it is fitting that the 2006 NATO Summit takes place in Riga, Latvia this November. It underlines the wisdom that transatlantic security too must constantly renew itself to remain strong, relevant and effective. Economic goals, social stability and cultural values are best protected when they are regularly reassessed, altered where necessary, and improved where possible. Latvia anchors the new Baltic Sea dimension of transatlantic security and serves at the crossroads of NATO, EU and European Neighborhood interests. The issues that will be addressed in Riga this November will define NATO's ability to meet challenges of the present and prevent conflicts in the future.