OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER Annual Report 2004

OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER Annual Report 2004 The President of the Senate The Speaker of the House of Representatives Dear Mr. President and Mr. Speaker: It is my pleasure to submit to you, on behalf of the Open World Leadership Center Board of Trustees, the Center’s annual report for 2004. When Congress authorized Open World in 1999 (then called the Russian Leadership Program), our immedi- ate task was to launch a large-scale exchange program that would bring emerging political and civic leaders from Russia to the United States on visits (preferably for the first time) to observe and experience our democracy, market economy, and civil society. With broad bipartisan support, led by Senator Ted Stevens, Congress created a unique pilot program, which was given independent status as the Open World Leadership Center in 2000. In 2003, Congress extended the reach of Open World professional and community-based exchange programs beyond Russia. The Board then selected Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Lithuania as its first pilot expansion countries. At the same time, Open World’s focus on Russia has continued: the program welcomed 8,800 cur- rent and future decision makers from all 89 regions of the Russian Federation from 1999 to 2004. Congress has used Open World both to combat negatively manipulated images of America and to help the development of democracy in the countries in which it operates. The participants and American hosts pro- filed in our 2004 report to Congress testify to the value of the professional and personal ties fostered by Open World. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I express our gratitude for Congress’s support and for the generosity and warmth of our volunteer American hosts in more than 1,400 communities. They represent the best of American public participation in a foreign policy initiative of great long-term value. I thank retiring board members Representative Amo Houghton, George Soros, and James W. Symington for their guidance on and interest in Open World since its inception. As we mark our fifth anniversary, we look forward to working with the leadership of Congress and its designees on the Board of Trustees to determine our future direction. Respectfully, James H. Billington Chairman, Board of Trustees program information Leadership Program History The Open World Leadership Center is an independent entity The U.S. Congress established the nent, independent agency to in the Legislative Branch gov- Open World Program in 1999 to house the program: the Open erned by a board of trustees. bring emerging Russian political World Leadership Center. Public and civic leaders to the United Law 108-7, enacted in February BOARD OF TRUSTEES – 2004 States to meet their American 2003, made the 11 other counterparts and see American- Freedom Support Act countries The Honorable Ted Stevens, style democracy and free enter- and the three Baltic republics eli- United States Senate (AK) – prise in action. The initiative gible for Open World, and Honorary Chairman grew out of discussions between authorized a new initiative for Dr. James H. Billington, The Librarian of Congress – Librarian of Congress James H. Russian cultural leaders. Chairman Billington and Members of The Honorable Bill Frist,1 Congress, led by Senator Ted In December 2004, Congress in United States Senate (TN) Stevens (AK), on ways to increase Public Law 108-447 added two The Honorable Carl Levin,1 mutual understanding between seats to the Open World United States Senate (MI) the two countries and support Leadership Center Board of The Honorable Amo Russians’ efforts to create a civil Trustees and authorized the Houghton,1 society. In December 2000, Board to determine country eligi- United States House of Congress established a perma- bility for the program. Representatives (NY) The Honorable Robert E. 1 (Bud) Cramer, Jr., Open World Legislative History United States House of Representatives (AL) § Public Law 108-447 § Public Law 106-554 The Honorable James W. The Open World Leadership Center The Center for Russian Leadership 2 Symington, received funding to continue its activi- Development was established in Public Former Member, United States ties and was authorized to expand to Law 106-554 in December 2000 for the House of Representatives any other country as designated by the purpose of enabling emerging leaders of Russia to gain significant, firsthand The Honorable James F. Open World Board of Trustees through exposure to the American system of Collins,2 Public Law 108-447, the Consolidated democracy through visits to govern- Former U.S. Ambassador to Appropriations Act 2005, which was ments and communities in the United the Russian Federation signed into law on December 8, 2004. States. Mr. Walter Scott, Jr.,2 Public Law 108-7 § § Public Law 106-113 Chairman of Level 3 The Open World Leadership Center Russian Leadership Program Open World Communications received funding to expand its activities 2000 received its funding in Public Law through Public Law 108-7, the Mr. George Soros,2 106-113, commonly referred to as the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution Founder of the Open Society Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2003, which was signed into law on Institute FY2000, which became public law on February 20, 2003. November 29, 1999. § Public Law 107-68 Public Law 106-31 Ms. Geraldine M. Otremba, § The Center for Russian Leadership The Library of Congress Russian Executive Director Development received funding in sup- Leadership Program Open World 1999 port of its activities through Public Law was authorized by the United States 1 By appointment of the Congressional 107-68, the Legislative Branch Congress (Public Law 106-31) in May Appropriations Act, 2002, which was leadership 1999 to promote mutual understanding signed into law on November 12, 2001. 2 Citizen member appointed by among U.S. and Russian public policy Dr. Billington decision makers, political leaders, and citizens. www.openworld.gov 3 program information Open World exchanges are: Program Objectives Selective High-Quality Visits are overseen by competi- Open World enables Participation is targeted to cur- rent and future political and civic tively selected U.S. NGOs and emerging leaders from leaders, who must be nominated institutions with experience by designated U.S., international, hosting foreign leaders. Program participating countries to: or participating-country organi- staff review and finalize pro- posed agendas and monitor vis- Build mutual understanding zations, or by Open World alumni } or regional alumni coordinators. its. The U.S. Embassy and Open with their U.S. counterparts. Theme-Based World staff review nominations } Observe U.S. government, and make final recommenda- Open World organizes delegations in thematic groups in order business, volunteer, and tions on participants. to respond dynamically to each Open to Non-English Speakers community leaders carrying out participating country’s chal- English is not required, thus lenges. their daily responsibilities. extending the scope of Open Individualized } Experience how the separation World to a different and untapped pool of leaders. Open Programs provide interaction of powers, checks and World’s grants allow a signifi- with professional counterparts, cant investment in professional and hands-on activities and balances, freedom of the press, interpretation for the delegates’ high-level meetings that directly and other key elements of programs. relate to delegates’ interests. Most participants stay in private America’s democratic system Intensive homes, allowing them to experience American family and com- make the government and Open World exchanges typically last 10 days, beginning with an munity life, and to build personal society more accountable and orientation program in a major as well as professional relation- U.S. city. The core of the ships in the United States. transparent. exchange is a working visit con- Develop an understanding of ducted by a host organization in } a U.S. community. the U.S. free enterprise system. Open World co-founders Senator Ted Stevens (AK) and Dr. James H. Billington. } Learn how U.S. citizens organize and take initiative to address social and civic needs. } Share approaches to common challenges with their U.S. counterparts. } Participate in American family and community activities. } Establish lasting personal and professional ties with their U.S. hosts and counterparts. 4 2004 highlights Open World Welcomes 9,000th Participant The Open World Program brought its 9,000th participant to the United States in November. Open World Program Marks Fifth Anniversary On May 21 the Open World Leadership Center marked the program’s fifth anniversary with a reunion of dignitaries and staff involved in launching the original pilot in 1999. Among the attendees were Open World co-founder Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress and Open World board chairman, and two fellow board members: former Representative James W. Symington, who chaired the pilot program’s advisory committee, and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia James F. Collins. Russian and Ukrainian Delegations Witness U.S. Campaigns, Election Day Thirty-eight Russian political and civic leaders had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit campaign headquarters, polling places and newsrooms throughout the United States during election week on a special Open World program. Other highlights of their visits included participating in a question-and-answer session with Representative Louise M. Slaughter in Rochester, New York;

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