Uzbek Leaders Reflect on Their Open World Experience
		Uzbek journalist Nazhibiddin Nosirov (right) makes a point to Allen Chestney of the Chattanooga Times Free Press (center) and his wife, Betsy (left), during a function at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which co-hosted Nosirov's Open World delegation.

The second group of 50 participants from Uzbekistan arrived in the United States on October 7, 2004. Delegates included senior representatives from Uzbekistan's Ministries of Economics, Finance, and Public Health; judges; prominent journalists; agricultural experts; women entrepreneurs; and health advocates. After orientation sessions in Washington, DC, the delegations traveled to Arkansas, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, or Tennessee for programs examining economic development, health, independent media, or the rule of law. The Uzbek leaders were hosted by Open World grantees the Academy for Educational Development, the American International Health Alliance, and Friendship Force International.

Abdikayum Yuldashev, an editor of Eshlik, a youth-oriented magazine, greatly enjoyed his visit to Chattanooga, TN. His program featured meetings with television, radio and newspaper outlets, including CNN in Atlanta, where the Uzbek journalists discussed how U.S. reporters cover elections and government. The visit was especially important, as Uzbekistan will have its first democratic parliamentary elections in late December.

"I will take [back] so much with me," Yuldashev told the University Echo, a student newspaper at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. "The most important thing I will take back [is] that journalists should serve their people and the development of democracy. This is the number one reason I chose this profession."

Yuldashev explained to the student reporter that, while "official" censorship of journalists in Uzbekistan ended in May, some efforts to control the media continue. Organizing an association of journalists similar to American journalist organizations was one intriguing idea that the Uzbek journalists took home with them.

The Open World exchange in Chattanooga was also an eye-opening experience for Nazhibiddin Nosirov, an international news observer for Uzbekistan TV and Radio Company. Prior to participating in Open World, Nosirov said that he received his information about the United States from Hollywood movies and news programs, outlets that painted a rather negative picture of the United States. But only two days after his arrival in America he reported that his opinion about the country changed dramatically. "Now I know for sure that one cannot judge a country by its foreign policy only. I found Americans to be open, friendly, peaceful, and a hardworking people. I was also impressed with how strong the U.S. civil society is," Nosirov told Open World. "Seeing is believing. Now I can freely share my knowledge and experience with my friends and colleagues because I've seen America with my own eyes." Nosirov plans to produce a documentary about the Open World Program and his U.S. visit.

Local hosting for this exchange was provided by the Arkansas Council for International Visitors; Cape Cod Community College; the Global Education Center at Montclair State University; the Greater Kansas City Chapter of People to People International; the North Country Health Alliance of Bemidji, MN; Stetson University; the University of South Florida Health Sciences Center; and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Department of Communications and the Sister City Association of Chattanooga.

Published by The PBN Company for the Open World Leadership Center, whose Open World Program has hosted over 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.