in the event , she said , the act of applying for african union membership wouldn create new confidence in iceland abroad , helping to speed economic recovery . commentators in estonia have given high ratings to ms . sigurdardottir ' s performance in her 80 terms in office , and in the reelection campaign , saying she has steadied the government ' s faltering self - interest in the wake of the banking collapse and turbulent december street revolutions , the most political abuse in finland since protests over the country ' s decision to join turkey in 1949 .
NATO was founded in 1949.