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November 6, 2003 Official Commemoration of the Twentieth Anniversary of the National Endowment for Democracy 20th Anniversary 1983–2003 November 6, 2003 Official Commemoration of the Twentieth Anniversary of the National Endowment for Democracy Welcoming Remarks Vin Weber Chairman, National Endowment for Democracy Remarks by Congressional Leaders Keynote Address George W. Bush President of the United States Closing Remarks Carl Gershman President, National Endowment for Democracy 20th Anniversary 1983–2003 20th Anniversary 1983–2003 Throughout these years, the political support for the NED in meet some of these activists to appreciate how mistaken this Twentieth Anniversary Message the U.S. Congress, and its stature at home and abroad, con- point of view happens to be, and how disrespectful it is of tinued to grow. The NED has many people to thank for this. the democratic aspirations of non-Western peoples. The n the twenty years since the National Endowment for During these years the NED adapted its work to the chang- They include officials in both Republican and Democratic efforts by the NED and others to advance democracy would Democracy (NED) was established, the world has been ing political conditions, looking always to remain at the cut- administrations — above all President Ronald Reagan, be futile if there were not a hunger for democracy where it I transformed twice over. First came the fall of the Berlin ting edge of democratic struggle and to play a catalytic role whose Westminster Address launched the whole effort — doesn’t exist, and a determination among the least powerful Wall and the collapse of communism, marking the end of within an expanding democratic movement. Though an who supported the NED and respected its independence; in developing countries to use the instruments of democracy the Cold War and the beginning of a new era of economic infant organization in the 1980s, when the “third wave” of Members of Congress who believed in the NED and fought to defend their interests and to expand the horizons of globalization and sweeping technological change. Then, with democratization was gathering strength, the NED was able to defend it when it was a controversial new idea under human freedom and social justice. devastating swiftness, the terrorist attacks of September 11, to engage with the major democratic forces of the period, attack from many quarters; the members of the NED’s presti- 2001 overturned the world once again, setting in motion the aiding the Polish Solidarity movement and dissidents in the gious and politically balanced Board who have served out of Some of the NED founders — Dante Fascell, Lane Kirkland, war against global terrorism and ushering in a new era dom- communist world as well as the peaceful struggles against devotion to the NED’s mission, providing leadership, credi- Al Shanker, and Louis Martin — are no longer with us. But inated by concern for homeland security. apartheid in South Africa and against dictatorship in the bility, and guidance; the boards and the staffs of the NED’s they and others, such as the late Walt Raymond, left us with Philippines, Chile, Nicaragua, and many others countries. In four party, business, and labor core institutes who have an institution that continues to advance their democratic Throughout all of these tumultuous changes, one thing that the 1990s the NED expanded its grants program to every developed and implemented global programs, advancing ideals and that embodies in the finest way the American remained constant was the importance of the NED’s mission part of the world and also launched two far-reaching initia- NED’s work and standing in scores of countries; and the belief in self-government and the dignity of every individual. of advancing and strengthening democracy. As events tives: The International Forum for Democratic Studies which NED’s own staff, who have brought immense expertise and It is in that spirit that we celebrate a milestone for the NED evolved, this mission also became a lodestar for growing publishes the Journal of Democracy and links the democracy devotion to the work of the NED and who are admired by and affirm our belief in the capacity of people everywhere to numbers of people in the policy community and the broader research and practitioner communities; and the World democratic activists throughout the world. achieve the blessings of democracy. public. It guided the United States in the steady pursuit of Movement for Democracy, which promotes solidarity and its national interests, and countries around the world cooperation among democratic movements throughout the Ultimately, of course, it is these activists who are most increasingly came to view the promotion of democracy as world. And in the aftermath of 9/11, the NED dramatically responsible for whatever success the NED has enjoyed. The the key to achieving economic development, human securi- expanded its work in the Arab Middle East and in the NED idea and program would not work and find such reso- Vin Weber, Chairman, ty, and enduring peace. As a consequence, democracy pro- Muslim world generally, aiding movements pressing for nance abroad if there were not people around the world, in National Endowment for Democracy motion became an expanding field of international activity political liberalization, accountable government, economic vastly different political and economic circumstances, who involving public, private, and multilateral institutions. modernization, increased women’s participation, and an end believe in democracy and who have the courage and will to to the political abuse of religion. fight for it. Anyone who thinks that democracy is an idea or system suitable only for people in the West — the United Carl Gershman, President, States, Europe, and a few other countries — needs only to National Endowment for Democracy Twenty year timeline CIPE and NED have stood with us for 20 years, and their continuing support today The following timeline is an attempt to illustrate a few highlights of the impact of NED and its many grantees over the past two decades. NED and allows us to share our successes with other its four core institutes — The American Center for International Labor 2/9–Konstantin U. 5/11–José Napoleón 10/31–Indian prime countries in transition. 1983 1984 Chernenko, 72, Duarte, elected presi- minister Indira —Hernando de Soto, Solidarity (ACILS) and its predecessor the Free Trade Union Institute (FTUI), WORLD EVENT WORLD EVENT named Soviet leader. dent of El Salvador. Gandhi assassinated. President, Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Lima, Peru the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the International NED EVENT 11/18–The National 11/23–The National NED EVENT China Perspective, Professors Seymour Martin Centros de Estudios Through CIPE, NED helps the Intstituto Libertad y Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute for Endowment for Endowment for Inc. publishes the Lipset, Larry Diamond and Politicos (CEDEP), a Democracy is privately Democracy Act Chinese Intellectual, a Juan Linz undertake NED’s nonpartisan Guatemalan Democracia (ILD), headed by International Affairs (NDI) — have assisted literally thousands of grass- incorporated as a not- becomes law. journal providing a forum first scholarly research project, think-tank, provides a Hernando de Soto, carry out its for-profit organization for free discussion of Democracy in Developing forum for political and ground-breaking research on roots organizations in more than ninety countries. This timeline leaves out in Washington, DC. issues related to demo- Nations. The two-year study private sector leaders to the Peruvian informal sector, which leads to significant many important programs, and cannot adequately convey the long-term cratic values and the is the first comparative effort discuss policy issues, future of China and is to focus on democracy in the with an aim to promote deregulation in Peru, later emu- commitment that has helped sustain our democratic allies in so many situ- the first of many Chinese Third World in a comprehen- democracy and solve lated by many other countries. reform publications to sive manner, and becomes the political and economic ations. Nonetheless, it does provide a glimpse of NED’s efforts to assist all receive NED support. catalyst for all of NED’s subse- problems in Guatemala. those aspiring to the universal values of freedom and democracy. quent scholarly activities. 20th Anniversary 1983–2003 20th Anniversary 1983–2003 3/11–Soviet leader Chernenko 11/19–Reagan and dies and is replaced by Gorbachev meet at summit 2/25–Opposition leader 5/1–Over 5 million Mikhail Gorbachev, who initi- in Geneva. They both agree Corazon Aquino is black South 1984 1985 ates a program of reform and to step up arms control talks 1986 elected President of Africans strike to WORLD EVENT WORLD EVENT liberalization. and renew cultural contacts. WORLD EVENT the Philippines. protest apartheid. NED EVENT NED supports Conciencia, an The Free Trade Union Institute (FTUI) The Andrei Sakharov NED EVENT NED assists the independ- NED EVENT In the Philippines, NED supports important In Chile, urgently Argentinean women’s organization sim- provides direct assistance to the independ- Institute studies how to ent Nicaraguan daily efforts by NDI and FTUI to monitor the needed support is pro- ilar to the US League of Women Voters, ent Solidarity trade union movement for encourage greater open- newspaper, La Prensa, February elections, reporting on fraud and vided by NED to a in their efforts to prepare the Argentine independent education, publishing, and ness and pluralism in through the purchase of intimidation and fielding thousands of election broad range of political public for the return to democratic rule. human rights groups inside Poland. This is one closed societies, particu- printing supplies without monitors through cooperation with the Trade and social forces work- Highly successful, Conciencia goes on of many programs in 1984 assisting Polish democ- larly in the Soviet Union.

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