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For Immediate Release

Washington, DC — The Open World Leadership Center today announced a Congressionally approved expansion of its Open World program to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Tajikistan that will bring some 125 political and civic leaders from those countries to the United States this year. The Open World delegations will be based on a number of specific themes, including Accountable Governance, Rule of Law, Education and Social Services. Once in the U.S., the delegations will be hosted by Open World grantees, including the Academy for Educational Development, National Peace Foundation, Vital Voices Global Partnership and others.

The first delegation, including lawyers and local government officials from Georgia, arrived in the U.S. on February 28.
"We welcome Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Tajikistan to the Open World program," said Dr. James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress and Chairman of the Open World Board of Trustees. "Each of these countries is experiencing its own unique developmental challenges. The political and civic leaders who will visit the U.S. from these countries bring new perspectives and experiences to the Open World program's mission to foster cooperation and relationships with emerging leaders from the states of the former Soviet Union."

The U.S. Congress established the Open World Program in 1999 following discussions with Dr. Billington to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and Russia. The success of the Open World program in Russia has led the U.S. Congress to broadly expand its mandate throughout Eurasia and the Baltic States. The program has been successful in creating a network of leaders from participating countries who have gained significant, firsthand exposure to America's democratic, accountable government and its free-market system. It is the only exchange program in the U.S. legislative branch.
To date, nearly 12,000 political and civic leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Lithuania have travelled to the United States for intensive exchanges to experience American civil society, enhance professional skills, and establish lasting ties with their U.S. counterparts, followed by active participation in alumni activities upon their return.

The Open World Program brings emerging political and civic leaders from participating countries to communities across the United States. Delegations experience American community and cultural life while observing firsthand the interrelationships between the three branches and different levels (federal, state, and local) of the U.S. government. Program participants also explore how the U.S. private and nonprofit sectors help meet social and civic needs. Participants share their own experiences and engage in a hands-on and substantive exchange with their professional counterparts. Open World is managed by the Open World Leadership Center, an independent legislative branch entity headquartered at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.