NATO secretary-general Robertson to step down

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson unexpectedly announced Wednesday he will step down in December, declining offers to stay on for another year.

As the alliance's top civilian official, Robertson has been praised for pushing through reforms, overseeing NATO's decision in November to invite in seven new members and securing commitments from European allies to boost their military capabilities.

Under his guidance, NATO also negotiated a new partnership with Russia, maintained its peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo and helped negotiate an end to a crisis in Macedonia that threatened to spill over into a new Balkan war.

In the days after Sept. 11, Robertson chaired the alliance as it invoked its core mutual defense clause for the first time.

"Lord Robertson has made a huge contribution during his period in office," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in London.

"Under his leadership NATO has maintained its traditional role as the foundation of trans-Atlantic security and the main forum for security consultation between allies."

A former British defense secretary, Robertson took over NATO's top job in 1999. His announcement did not reveal his future plans, but he is a member of Britain's upper house of parliament, the House of Lords.

"I have been asked by a number of governments to stay on for the optional fifth year but I believe four years is the right term in this demanding and onerous job," the 55-year-old Robertson said in his statement Wednesday.

"I'm looking forward to another full and active year ahead before I go."

NATO is now discussing a request from the United States to provide backup should war break out in Iraq.

"I think that amounts to a reasonable record for one secretary-general, and there are still 11 months to go before I depart," Robertson said.

Despite his successes, Robertson could find his last months in office dominated by growing tensions within the alliance over Iraq, as the United States and Britain intensify their preparations for war while Germany, France and other European allies oppose a military strike.

There had been little speculation at NATO headquarters about a possible replacement for Robertson. One name mentioned is Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, but Polish diplomats said he is determined to serve out his term, which ends in 2005.

Poland joined the alliance in 1999 along with Hungary and the Czech Republic.

There also were suggestions a Scandinavian could be in line for the job. Names mentioned include former Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen or Norway's Defense Minister Kristin Krohn Devold, who would be the first woman to head NATO.

However, a NATO official said the speculation was currently "just bar room talk."

Born on the Isle of Islay off the west coast of Scotland, Robertson was for 10 years the trade union representative for the Scotch Whisky industry until 1978. He was chairman of the Scottish Labor party before Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed him defense secretary after Labor's 1997 election victory.

He was known as George Robertson until Queen Elizabeth II gave him the title of Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, his hometown, in 1999. Following British custom, he is now known simply as Lord Robertson.

He replaced former Spanish Foreign Minister Javier Solana as NATO secretary-general in 1999, just after the alliance fought its first war in Kosovo.

The secretary-general is traditionally a European politician, while the United States supplies the alliance's supreme military commander in Europe.