In addition to "Otkrytiy mir," — the words for Open World in Russian — Open World now can be translated into Uzbek, "Ochik Dunyo," and Ukrainian, "Vidkrytyi Svit."

For the first time since its founding five years ago, the Open World Program has expanded beyond the borders of the Russian Federation. The Open World Leadership Center launched pilot exchange programs with Ukraine and Uzbekistan last month, hosting a total of 98 political and civic leaders from the two countries in the United States. Congress authorized the Open World Leadership Center to expand Open World on a pilot basis to other countries of the Newly Independent States (NIS) and the Baltics in early 2003.

"The success of the Open World approach led Congress to authorize the expansion of the program," explained Dr. James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress and Chair of the Open World Board of Trustees. "Our Board of Trustees selected Ukraine and Uzbekistan for its first two pilot programs in 2003, with the expectation that the Open World model could have significant impact in both countries."

For the two pilot programs, delegates were chosen from a pool of candidates nominated by prominent Ukrainian, Uzbek, and Western nongovernmental organizations and by U.S. government agencies within the U.S. diplomatic missions to Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Selection committees at the U.S. Embassies in Kyiv and Tashkent chose finalists for the two new exchanges through a competitive process. The committees included embassy staff, subject experts, and Open World Leadership Center representatives.

Ukraine’s 50 participants included top journalists, NGO leaders, education professionals and lawyers, who traveled in 10 delegations focusing on one of the following three themes: NGO development, independent media, and electoral processes.

"The expansion of the Open World Program to Ukraine comes at an important stage in Ukraine’s transition to a democratic society," said U.S. Ambassador John Herbst. "Bringing together U.S. and Ukrainian political and civic leaders assists in this transition and strengthens bilateral relations."

Ukraine’s delegates were hosted in the United States by several 2003 Open World grantees: the Academy for Educational Development; Friendship Force International; the International Institute of the Graduate School, USDA; and Vital Voices Global Partnership. The host cities for the delegations were Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Cincinnati, OH; Youngwood, PA; and Memphis, TN.

One Ukrainian delegate, Iryna Shust, a radio reporter from Voice of America, said of her Open World experience, "It was a unique opportunity for me to learn more about the U.S. electoral legislation and the role of mass media in the society. I hope that the new knowledge and acquaintances gained in my trip will help me in my future work, especially with regard to the fact that presidential elections will take place in Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and the U.S. in 2004."

Among the 48 Uzbeks who traveled to the United States were senior government officials — including the Deputy Minister of Finance, the Director of the Center for Effective Economic Policy, and the Chief of the Ministry of Health’s Mother and Infancy Protection Center — and prominent journalists, NGO leaders and emerging entrepreneurs. The 10 Uzbek delegations focused on economic development, health, or independent media.

Open World grantees — the Academy for Educational Development, the American International Health Alliance, and Rotary International — welcomed the Uzbek delegates in Huntsville, AL; Los Angeles and Santa Cruz, CA; Des Moines, IA; Lexington, KY; Cleveland and Kent, OH; Bethlehem, PA; Grapevine, TX; and Seattle, WA.

On the eve of the delegation’s departure, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent held a press briefing on the new Open World Program that drew an enthusiastic audience of Uzbek journalists. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires David Appleton said, "Open World is contributing greatly to efforts to strengthen democracy and economic growth in Uzbekistan by enabling a cross-section of Uzbek leaders to see the U.S. democratic process at work and to exchange ideas with their American counterparts. This is an extraordinary opportunity for the people of Uzbekistan and the United States to learn about each other’s society, and to establish meaningful contacts."

The Open World Leadership Center hosted a two-day orientation program in Washington, DC, for all delegates from Ukraine and Uzbekistan. "I am extremely grateful for the enthusiasm and cooperation from our State Department colleagues and American hosts to help us launch two complex new pilot countries," said Open World Executive Director Geraldine Otremba.

Summing up her U.S. stay, Nuriya Tuleyeva of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health said, "It was a very valuable and informative visit. In a relatively short period of time I had a chance to observe all branches of the American health care system. … I took particular interest in visiting the medical care center for teenagers that works with young mothers and their babies. It would be very useful to institute a similar program for students and kids from low-income families in Uzbekistan."

Open World’s contractor for logistical and administrative support, American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, is assisting with program implementation in Ukraine, Uzbekistan and the United States.

Published by The PBN Company for the Open World Leadership Center, whose Open World Program has hosted nearly 9,000 citizens from Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan since its inception in 1999. The Center is an independent legislative branch agency that works cooperatively with the U.S. Department of State and other U.S. executive and judicial branch agencies. For additional information, please visit the Open World Leadership Center's website at www.openworld.gov or contact the office at +1 202-707-8943.