Programs of the United States Information Agency (USIA) in the New Independent States (NIS) focus on assisting citizens of these new states in the development of free-market economies and democratic institutions and processes. The principal mechanism USIA employees in these programs is the exchange visit, which ranges from a short-term visitor program to academic degree programs. USIA exchanges are complemented by in-country training by American experts, book programs, and news and information services.
USIA base funding (i.e., budget for regular programs) for the NIS in fiscal year 1992 totaled $42 million. In fiscal year 1993, USIA's budget for the NIS was approximately $97.35 million, of which $40 million originated from the Freedom Support Act (FSA).
Educational, cultural, and technical assistance exchange programs that speed the process of reform and democratization have expanded quantitatively and qualitatively in fiscal year 1993. Through the redistribution of USIA base funds, and additional money for FSA, we have launched new initiatives and strengthened existing programs. Through open competition in our academic exchange programs we strive to ensure equal opportunity for all to apply and be selected. More students and faculty from the NIS will be able to study and conduct research in the U.S. this year than ever before, particularly under USIA FSA programs, which are almost exclusively "one- way" programs (i.e., NIS participants travelling to the U.S.)
This paper describes USIA programs and activities in three parts: USIA NIS-wide base programs; USIA NIS-wide Freedom Support Act programs, and USIA NIS-wide Technical Assistance programs. An appendix provides an overview of country- specific information.
Office of the Coordinator for Russian and Eurasian Affairs (202-619-5057) United States Information Agency Washington, DC 20547 Tel: 202-619-4355 Fax: 202-619-6988
Fulbright: Under USIA's Fulbright Scholar Program, approximately 100 NIS and 50 U.S. professors are travelling to the U.S. and NIS in FY-93 to lecture and conduct research. This year the program expanded dramatically outside of the capital cities in the NIS. For example, American lecturers are teaching in Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk and Petro-Pavlovsk in Russia and Kharkiv, Odessa and Lviv in Ukraine. For more information, contact:
European Programs Branch Academic Exchange Programs Division Tel: 202-619-4420
Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship Program: Announced in February 1992, the Muskie Fellowship program provides scholarships for graduate study and hands-on training in the United States in the fields of business administration, economics, law and public administration. Senator George Mitchell of Maine sponsored the $7 million program. This fall, some 150 NIS graduate students and young professionals arrived in the U.S. for academic programs of one or two years in length, some of which will lead to a graduate degree or certificate. This program was the first to be advertised openly and administered through a merit-based competition in the NIS. For more information, contact:
European Programs Branch Academic Exchange Programs Division Tel: 202-205-0525
Regional Scholar Fellowship Program: In FY-93, 30 scholars from the U.S. and 60 from NIS countries travelled on long-term and short-term grants to conduct research in the humanities and social sciences. For more information, contact:
European Programs Branch Academic Exchange Programs Division Tel: 202-205-0525
U.S./NIS Undergraduate Student Exchange (1000/1000): Presidents Bush and Gorbachev announced the 1000-1000 student exchange program at the Malta Summit; an agreement establishing guidelines for the program was signed by both countries in June 1990. 466 NIS undergraduate and graduate students and 300 U.S. students are participating in the exchange in the 1993-1994 academic year. By academic year 1995-1996, 1000 students will be exchanged each way. For more information, contact:
European Programs Branch Academic Exchange Programs Division Tel: 202-205-0525
Samantha Smith Memorial Exchange Program: The U.S. Congress established the Samantha Smith Memorial Exchange Program in 1988. The program provides grants to U.S. non-profit organizations to support undergraduate and youth exchange projects between the United States, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In FY-93, 200 undergraduates participated in the program. In the secondary school program there were 154 American students travelling to the NIS and 211 NIS students visited the United States. Most exchanges have taken place with Russia.
For more information on undergraduate programs, contact:
European Programs Branch Academic Exchange Programs Division Tel: 202-205-0525
For more information on secondary school programs, contact:
Office of Citizen Exchanges Tel: 202-619-5326
Student Advising: Operated jointly by the American Council of Teachers of Russian and the International Research and Exchanges Board through a grant from USIA, these student advising centers in 12 countries of the NIS are one of our most successful efforts. The demand for student advising has skyrocketed in the last year and the newly-renovated Moscow center in the Library of Foreign Literature serves an average of over 1,000 visitors per month. (See also: FREEDOM SUPPORT GRANTS: TOP-UP GRANTS) For more information, contact:
Advising and Student Services Branch Tel: 202-619-5434
University Affiliations: Several NIS-American linkages are funded under this program of working partnerships between American and NIS universities to develop faculty resources in key fields. A list of partner schools and their field concentrations are: Portland State University - Khabarovsk Institute of National Economics; University of Pittsburgh - St. Petersburg State University; University of Alaska, Anchorage - Magadan Pedagogical Institute; University of Minnesota - Novosibirsk State University; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign - Kazakhstan Research Institute of Grain Farming and Agricultural Economics/Akmola Agricultural Institute; University of Kansas - Kyrgyz Technical University; and Michigan State University - Tashkent State University of Economics. (SEE ALSO UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS) For more information, contact:
Specialized Programs Unit Tel: 202-619-5289
Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program: Secondary and post- secondary educators from Russia and Belarus will exchange teaching positions with their American counterparts for one academic year. In FY-93, the teachers may also work on curricular and educational reform. For more information, contact:
Teacher Exchange Branch Tel: 202-619-4555
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program: In FY-93, Russian and Ukrainians will participate in the Humphrey Fellowship Program for the first time. this program is designed to meet the requirements of policy makers, planners, administrators and managers who have a public service orientation and have demonstrated leadership potential. Every year, 140 distinguished professionals from around the world are offered a year of non-degree academic study and professional training in the U.S. We hope to expand NIS participation in this program in the future. For more information, contact:
Specialized Programs Unit Tel: 202-619-5289
USIA's International Visitor (IV) program, affords a unique and particularly effective opportunity for key embassy contacts to examine life in the U.S. firsthand and establish links with their American counterparts. Visitors are nominated by American embassies in the NIS.
In FY-93, over 180 participants from the NIS travelled to the U.S. to examine topics like fiscal policy, economic adjustment and the defense industry, local government, environmental protection, and print journalism.
An NIS sub-regional program on "Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development in the United States," took place in April and May, 1993, with participants from seven countries. In October, 1993, NIS participants will visit on a program entitled, "Economic Development in a Market Economy."
For more information, contact:
Office of International Visitors, European Branch Tel: 202-619-5247
Our Voluntary Visitor program allows more flexibility for shorter term programs of up to two weeks for individuals and groups already travelling to the U.S. under other auspices. In FY-93 Voluntary Visitors arranged programs for the Kazakh Minister of Education and representatives of the Russian Committee on Higher Education, among others. For more information, contact:
Office of International Visitors Voluntary Visitor Division Tel: 202-619-4582
USIA has awarded numerous grants to U.S. non-profit organizations and institutions to conduct exchange programs in the NIS. A key initiative of these programs has been the U.S.-NIS Inter-Parliamentary Exchange. Under this program, NIS parliamentary delegations travel to the U.S. for one to two weeks to meet with their counterparts in the U.S. congress and examine a thematic area such as defense conversion, arms control or international financial institutions. Thus far, delegations have travelled from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Three other examples of important USIA initiatives are:
* Ukrainian Business Incubator Development: 65 Ukrainian entrepreneurs have already graduate from this training program which operates from centers in Kiev and Lviv. The business incubator centers seek to promote the growth of new technology enterprises by linking technical universities to new business entrepreneurs and provide them with training, research, and access to talent.
* The National Judicial College (Reno, Nevada) has conducted training programs for Russian judges in the U.S. with follow-up workshops planned for later this year in Moscow.
* The State University of New York (SUNY), which received funds to launch an ambitious and timely distance learning project with the Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology in Russia. The program will allow SUNY and the Committee to reach out to previously isolated areas of the country with its program of business education.
For more information, contact:
Office of Citizen Exchanges Russia/Eurasia Division Tel: 202-619-5326
Book Programs: Over 75 American books on economics, law, business, political science, history, and the environment are being or have been translated into Russian. Many print runs number 50,000 copies, or more. This fiscal year has seen the publication of Savas' Privatization, Madison's The Federalist Papers, and the "Worldwatch Annual". In the works are Jeffrey Sachs' Microeconomics and Peter Drucker's Managing for the Future, among many others. Active book translation programs also exist in Armenia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. USIS Moscow is currently developing an ambitious book donation program which will place targeted collections in public administration, economics, business law, English teaching, etc. in six cities throughout Russia. The collections will be supplemented by English teaching fellows placed at local universities and student advisors where feasible.
For more information, contact:
Book Programs Division Tel: 202-619-4896
Other Publications: USIA distributes the feature magazine America Illustrated in Russian throughout the NIS. The current circulation is 150,000. Approximately 80 percent of its distribution is in Russia. In Fall 1993, USIA introduced a Ukrainian language edition of this magazine, to be distributed commercially all over Ukraine. USIA-produced pamphlets "What is Democracy" and "What is a Market Economy" are currently distributed in Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Armenian, Georgian and many other languages of the former Soviet Union. A pamphlet on the U.S.. electoral process has been published in Russian. Pamphlets on economics (the Prosperity Papers series) and democratic institutions (Freedom Papers series) have also been translated for distribution throughout the NIS. From 1988-1991, over 58 American titles in political science and economics were contracted for translation and publication in the Russian language. (SEE ALSO: Technical Assistance: Book translations)
For more information, contact:
Publications Division Tel: 202-619-4265
SPEAKERS
Under base programs, USIA sponsored nine speaker programs in the NIS in FY-93 on such topics as legal reform, fiscal and monetary policy, environmental protection, defense conversion and democratic and constitutional processes. In Ukraine, six American experts in Administrative Law participated in a seminar in Kiev on this subject. USIA has also programmed Academic Specialists, short-term advisors who travel to Russia for specific tasks. Recently, Richard Ekman from the Mellon Foundation travelled to Russia to work with the Committee on Higher Education on conducting an open competition. His guidelines for academic peer review of grant and scholarship applications have been distributed by the Russian authorities throughout the institutions of higher learning under the Committee of Higher Education, Science and Technology. He also worked with USIS Moscow on setting up the first bi- national advisory board on the Fulbright Program in Russia.
For more information, contact:
Office of Program Coordination and Development Tel: 202-619-4764>
USIA has received $36.25 million for exchange programs with the New Independent States (NIS) under the Freedom Support Act. These programs, targeted at key areas of U.S. technical assistance, are intended to promote democratic and economic reform in the NIS and to promote ties between citizens of the U.S. and the NIS. USIA programs have focused on the following issues: free and independent media; growth of democratic institutions; rule of law; free market reform; and educational reform. Specific programs follow:
Undergraduate Student Program ($2.2 million): About 100 undergraduate students from the NIS will travel to the U.S. in the fall of 1993 for year-long programs in agriculture, computer science, business, economics, public policy/government, and education. Through grants from the USIA, the American Council of Teachers of Russian/American Council for Collaboration in Education and Language Study (ACTR/ACCELS) and the American Collegiate Consortium (ACC) will recruit and place students at U.S. universities.
For more information, contact:
European Programs Branch Academic Exchange Programs Division Tel: 202-205-0525
Graduate Student Program ($4.2 million): About 100 graduate students for the NIS will receive fellowships for graduate- level study in the U.S. this fall in the fields of law, economics, business administration, public administration, public policy and education. Through grants from USIA, the American Council of Teachers of Russian/American Council for Collaboration in Education and Language Study (ACTR/ACCELS), the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) and the Soros Foundation are administering the program.
For more information contact:
European Programs Branch Academic Exchange Programs Division Tel: 202-205-0525
Top-Up Grants ($1.6 million): USIA has awarded "top-up" grants for undergraduate and graduate students from the NIS who were admitted to American universities but needed partial financial assistance to enable them to attend. Maximum grants of $10,000 per student were awarded to 167 students in the fields of public administration, public policy, political science, urban planning, education, journalism, humanities, library science, English teaching, economics, business, marketing, law and computer science. This program is administered by the National Association of Foreign Student Advisors.
For more information, contact:
Advising and Student Services Branch Tel: 202-619-5434
University Partnerships ($3 million): Twelve grants will be awarded to U.S. universities to form partnerships with NIS universities. The grants will cover a two-year period beginning in fall 1993. Linkages will be designed to promote curriculum development and administrative reform in the following fields: 1) law; 2) economics/business, 3) public administration/public policy/government, and 4) education. Programs carried out under these affiliations will include materials development, writing of new curricula, training and team teaching, library development and librarian training, and training in administrative skills.
For more information, contact:
Specialized Programs Unit Tel: 202-619-5289
Freedom Support Grants ($750,000): Over 100 NIS officials will travel to the U.S. for short-term professional programs on issues related to democratic and economic reform. Candidates are selected by the U.S. embassies in the NIS according to mission priorities, and spend from one to three weeks in the U.S. consulting with American specialists in their fields. Major General Olexander Skypalsky, Head of Administration of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Russian Minister of Education Evgenly Tkachenko and Advisor to the President of Education Eduard Dneprov, and Kazakh Minister of Press and Information Altymbek Sarsenbayev participated in recent programs.
For more information, contact:
Office of International Visitors European Branch Tel: 202-619-5247
Local and Regional Government ($3 million): Local and regional government officials will participate in programs on the techniques and principles of democratic government and free-market operations. Programs include exchanges and training programs on topics such as strategic planning, budget procedures, small business assistance and public information. Components of the overall effort include grants to private organizations to arrange internships in the U.S. for the officials, grants to private sector organizations to conduct workshops and training programs, short term visitor/exchange programs, and visits to the NIS by advisors on local government.
For more information, contact:
Office of Citizen Exchanges Russia/Eurasia Division Tel: 202-619-5326
Exchanges Fund ($1.5 million): Additional exchange programs will be designed to meet the needs of the technical assistance program. In 1993, USIA awarded a grant to World Learning and Freedom Exchange to implement a July internship program for 140 Russian entrepreneurs from Moscow and Nizhniy Novgorod. The Russian participants worked in American companies and lived with host families in Houston, Atlanta and Raleigh- Durham.
For more information, contact:
Office of Citizen Exchanges Russia/Eurasia Division Tel: 202-619-5326
Secondary School Exchange Initiative ($20 million): A major program of secondary school exchanges with the NIS was officially launched in January, when 100 students arrived for one semester of study in U.S. high schools. Programs began in earnest in summer 1993.
* Over 1,200 U.S. and NIS high schools students will be exchanged for four- to six-week programs in thematic areas such as environment, government, leadership training, the arts, mathematics and science in FY-93. Grants were awarded to American organizations to implement the programs.
* Over 1,200 students from the NIS have arrived in the U.S. this fall for one year of study in U.S. high schools. Youth for Understanding, the American Council of Teachers of Russian, American Council for Collaboration in Education and Language Study (ACTR/ACCELS) and World Learning, Inc., conducted the recruitment and selection process and coordinated placement with U.S. host families.
* Almost 3000 U.S. and NIS students will be exchanged as part of a school-to-school linkage program. The program is of four- to six-weeks duration and is designed to establish long- term partnerships between NIS and American secondary schools. Primary focus is language training. Grants were awarded to 15 American organizations to conduct the programs.
For more information, contact:
Office of Youth Exchange Tel: 202-619-6299
In FY-92, USIA received $2.4 million in technical assistance funding for programs on public administration and public policy in the NIS. The funding was allocated to support the following initiatives which have largely been accomplished:
* Visitor/Training Programs and Advisors: These funds were allocated to provide visitor/training programs for Chiefs of Staff or other key officials from NIS countries with follow-up advisor programs, targeting needs identified by the NIS officials. USIA has conducted these programs for Chiefs of Staff from several NIS countries, including Kazakhstan, Moldova, Belarus and Armenia.
In Russia, these funds have targeted four fields which combine individual and group short-term training programs in the U.S. and advisers to the host government.
--- Local Government: the Mayor of Nizhniy-Novgorod, Dmitri Bednyakov, and Deputy governor Yevgeniy Gor'kov traveled to the U.S. in October for a three-week program. USIS Moscow plans to nominate another local official for a similar program this fall. A team of advisors in this field has traveled to numerous cities throughout Russia to assess needs for technical assistance in these areas, coordinate USIA efforts and advise local governments. The team has conducted a highly successful series of workshops tailored to requests from local governments in the Volga Valley, Far East and Urals. The seminars focused on attracting foreign investment, models for Russian federalism and local support for business development.
--- Educational Administration: Nine Russian education officials travelled to the U.S. in September for a four- week program. Evgeniy Tkachenko, who later became Minister of Education, participated in the program. USIS Moscow has begun programming a series of educational advisors to follow up on this program. Chris Pipho, a specialist on private secondary schools travelled to Moscow, Siberia, the Volga valley and the Fare East to work with local education officials. Carl Kuttler travelled to Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd and St. Petersburg in May and June to address the role of community colleges in Russia, particularly their role in the transition to a market economy. A group of Russian education officials will travel to the U.S. this fall to examine the role and structure of community colleges in the U.S.
--- Executive Structures of the Government: USIS Moscow sent Steve Redburn of the Office of Management and Budget to work with President Yeltsin's Control Department, the equivalent of the GAO, to assist the Russian government with monitoring the expenditure of government funds and to improve government accountability before the electorate. Yeltsin's Deputy Chief of Staff Yevgeniy Volkov and representatives of the Control Department travelled to the U.S. in June for a visitor/training program on this theme. This program will be supplemented by sending over one or more additional advisors for up to four months.
--- Court of Arbitration: USIA sent two American judges to work with Russia's Court of Arbitration (Bankruptcy Court) in February. USIS Moscow will program three or four additional advisors this fall to run a series of intensive seminars on this topic.
* Book translations: In 1992 and 1993, over 45 titles were contracted for translation and publication in the Russian language, mostly titles in political science and government and economics. Contracts have also been signed with NIS publishers to translate and publish 17 titles in Ukrainian, 2 in Kazakh and 1 in Armenian. The latest title is James Wilson's American Government textbook entitled "The Constitution". Each chapter is being published as a separate booklet in Armenian, beginning with "The Constitution," which was distributed to all members of the Armenian parliament prior to the recent constitutional debate. This chapter will be followed by 10 additional chapters, including "State and Local Government" and "The Judiciary".
* Television Co-ops: Approximately 12 joint television productions with stations from NIS countries have taken place during the 1993 fiscal year. Topics addressed in these programs were: Conversion of Defense Industries to Domestic Production; Small Business Development; and Intellectual Property Rights.
* Long-Term Linkages and Training Programs: Grants were given to five private sector organizations--including Sister Cities International, the International Executive Service Corps, and Temple University--to conduct training programs in local and regional government in the NIS. USIA also awarded a grant to the National Forum Foundation to place American volunteers in NIS organizations. Volunteers have been placed in media organizations, local governments and state Ministries.
* Diplomatic Training Seminars. USIA conducted two seminars in Salzburg, Austria on "The Conduct of Foreign Relations: The seminars included representatives from 9 NIS countries. Topics included the formulation and implementation of policy goals and organization and management of a foreign ministry and its overseas missions.
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (7-3272) 633-639 531 Seyfullina Almaty Kazakhstan
USIA opened its post in Almaty in June of 1992 with a temporary Public Affairs Officer. The first permanent PAO arrived in September of the same year. Currently, the USIS staff is composed of two American officers: the PAO and an America House Director, and nine foreign service nationals. A third officer will arrive at post in early 1994.
USIA Almaty is currently finalizing a lease agreement for an America House site. Renovation is expected to begin in early FY-94, and the center should open in summer 1994. The America House will be the center for all USIS programming in Kazakhstan and will house a library, video collection, conference and programming rooms, on-line data bases, student advising center, and USIS offices.
We have concentrated our programming efforts on the areas of democratic, economic, and educational reform. We have brought over dozens of high school and university students on short- term and academic-year exchanges, have hosted numerous government officials, journalists, and academics on visitor programs, and provided large quantities of English language teaching materials and video tapes to the Embassy for distribution. Among the visitors on USIA programs have been the Chairman of the Kazakhstani Supreme Court, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Press and Information, as well as some 20 members of parliament. We have supported university linkage programs and training programs in journalism and business.
Budget permitting, we hope to increase programming in Kazakhstan in 1994. We will award a grant to the University of Illinois to work with the Akmola Agricultural Institute to develop a program in agriculture economics. We anticipate funding to bring over another group of Kazakhstani parliamentarians for a two-week introduction to the American political system.
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (7-8832) 989-967 Atoneilli 25 Tbilisi Georgia
USIA opened its post in Tbilisi in November of 1992. The post is staffed by an American Public Affairs Officer and six foreign service nationals. A second American officer, the America House Director, will join the staff in the fall of 1993.
USIS Tbilisi is currently negotiating space in the National Library building to house an America House. This center will be the focal point for USIA activity in Georgia, and will include a library, on-line data bases, a video collection, conference and program rooms, as well as USIS offices.
We have concentrated on programming efforts in the areas of democratic, economic and educational reform. We have brought over dozens of high school and university students on short- term and academic year exchanges, have hosted numerous government officials, journalists, and academics on visitor programs, and provided English language teaching materials and video tapes to the Embassy distribution. Among the officials who have taken part in USIA visitor programs are the President's Chief Foreign Policy Advisor, the head of the Georgian NSC, and a nine-person delegation from the Georgian parliament. We have furnished technical assistance advisors to help create public administration and business administration programs at Georgian universities, to assist in drafting a new commercial code and to help draft a new constitution. Budget and security conditions permitting, we hope to increase programming in all areas in the coming year.
USIA PROGRAMS IN TURKMENISTAN Post and People
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (7-3630) 244-925 Yubilenaya Hotel Ashgabat Turkmenistan
USIA does not currently have an American officer in Turkmenistan. We do not anticipate funding a position in FY- 94. USIA programs in Turkmenistan are managed by a Regional Programs Officer based in Vienna. The RPO travels on a regular basis to Turkmenistan. We have one foreign service national employee in Ashgabat.
USIA Programs We have concentrated our programming efforts on the areas of democratic, economic, and educational reform. We have brought over dozens of high school and university students on short- term and academic year exchanges, have hosted government officials, professionals, and academics on visitor programs, and provided English language teaching materials and video tapes to the Embassy for distribution. Among the officials who have taken part in our visitor programs are presidential advisors, two deputy ministers and several senior officials of the MFA. We have awarded a $200,000 NIS Training grant to California State Sacramento to encourage privatization and help develop the infrastructure of the government of Turkmenistan. We have provided technical assistance advisors in the areas of diplomatic training, effective local government and university curriculum reform.
USIA PROGRAMS IN TAJIKISTAN Post and People
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (7-3772) 243-223 39 Ainii Street Dushanbe Tajikistan
USIA has not American officer in Dushanbe. We do not anticipate staffing the post in FY-94. USIS programs in Tajikistan are managed by a Regional Programs Officer based in Vienna. We have one foreign service national employee in Tajikistan.
USIA Programs Because of the security situation, USIA programs in Tajikistan are limited. We have concentrated on exchange and visitor programs in order to bring Tajiks to the United States for study, training, and professional development. Dozens of high school and university students have taken part in programs to date. Among the participants in our visitor programs have been journalists, educators, and several officials of the MFA. USIA has awarded a University Affiliation grant of $200,000 to the University of Nebraska to set up an entrepreneurial training center at Khujand State University. In addition, we have provided the Embassy with English language teaching materials and video tapes for distribution.
The security situation and budget permitting, USIA would like to expand its programming in Tajikistan. This would include increased numbers of educational exchanges and visitor programs, the use of technical assistance advisors and other experts, in-country training programs in journalism, educational reform, English language teaching, public administration, and business. The University of Nebraska will receive a $50,000 Samantha Smith grant to conduct high school exchanges with Khujand in spring 1994.
USIA PROGRAMS IN MOLDOVA Post and People
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (7-3732) 233-772 103 Strada Alexei Mateevici Chisinau 277014 Moldova
USIA does not have an American officer in Chisinau. We have no plans to staff Chisinau in FY-94. USIS programs in Moldova are handled by one foreign service national employee, and by a Regional Affairs Officer based in Vienna. The RPO travels on a regular basis to Chisinau.
USIA Programs Our programming efforts have focused on promoting democratic, economic and educational reform. We have brought over dozens of high school and university students on short-term and academic year exchanges, have hosted government officials, professionals, and academics on visitor programs, and provided English language teaching materials and video tapes to the Embassy for distribution. Among the participants in USIA visitor programs has been the President's Chief of Staff and the dean of the country's first independent university. We have provided technical assistance advisors to the president's office and in the area of independent media. A group of eight Moldovan parliamentarians took part in a USIA parliamentary exchange.
USIA PROGRAMS IN UZBEKISTAN Post and People
U.S. Information Service - Tel. (7-3712) 891-225 55 Chelandarskaya Tashkent Uzbekistan
USIA opened its post in Tashkent in May, 1992 with the arrival of the first Public Affairs Officer. Currently the USIS staff is composed of two American officers: the PAO and an America House Director, and nine foreign service national employees.
USIS plans to open an America House in Tashkent. This cultural center will be the focal point for all USIS programming in Uzbekistan and will house a library, video collection, conference and programming rooms, on-line data bases, and USIS offices.
USIA Programs We have concentrated our programming efforts on the areas of democratic, economic, and educational reform. We have brought over dozens of high school and university students on short- term and academic year exchanges, have hosted numerous government officials, journalists, and academics on visitor programs, and provided large quantities of English language teaching materials and video tapes to the Embassy for distribution. Among the participants in USIA visitor programs has been the Minister of Education and a group of eight parliamentarians. We have supported university linkages and various training programs. We provided a technical assistance advisor in diplomatic training. We have given a $169,000 grant to the USDA Graduate School to develop a business training program for 15 faculty members fro Tashkent State Economics University.
Budget and the political situation permitting, we hope to increase programming in Uzbekistan in 1994. We would like to expand the use of technical assistance advisors and American experts in such fields as curriculum reform and English language teaching. We plan to award a $250,000 grant to Mississippi State University to establish a University linkage with the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in the fields of business and economics. We will award a $100,000 grant to the University of Michigan to work with Tashkent State Economics University in the fields of public administration and economics. We hope to have funding to bring another group of parliamentarians to the U.S. for a two- week introduction to the American political system.
USIA PROGRAMS IN KYRGYZSTAN Post and People
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (7-3312) 222-693 66 Erkindik Bishkek Kyrgyzstan
USIA is actively recruiting a permanent Public Affairs Officer to open our office in Kyrgyzstan. During the 1993 fiscal year, our programs were managed by a Regional Programs Officer from Vienna and by two TDY PAOs. USIS has one foreign service national in Bishkek.
USIA Programs We have concentrated our programming efforts on the areas of democratic, economic, and educational reform. We have brought over dozens of high school and university students on short- term and academic year exchanges, have hosted numerous government officials, journalists, and academics on visitor programs, and provided large quantities of English language teaching materials and video tapes to the Embassy for distribution. Among the participants on USIA visitor programs have been seven parliamentarians and the Minister of Culture.
Budget permitting, we hope to increase programming in all areas in FY 1994. We hope to fund a large media training program. We will award a $225,000 grant to the University of Nebraska to help Kyrgyz State University develop and American- style degree program to develop its business and economics courses. We will award a grant to Mississippi International to conduct seminars in business administration. We hope to bring over another parliamentary exchange group for a two-week introduction to the American political system.
USIA PROGRAMS IN UKRAINE Post and People
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (7044) 213-2532 America House Veselka Building Ulitsa Melninova 63 Kiev
USIA Kiev opened in November 1991 as part of the then U.S. Consulate in Kiev. When Ukraine became independent in January 1992, the U.S. Consulate became an Embassy. USIS Kiev officially opened as an America House in November 1992 in the Veselka building, a short distance from the U.S. Embassy. Currently, the USIS staff is composed of three American officers: Public Affairs Officer, Deputy Public Affairs Officer, and America House Director and ten foreign service nationals. In late 1993, a fourth officer will arrive to assume the position of USIS Press Officer.
The America House Building is currently under renovation. When completed in late 1993, it will be the center of USIS programming in Ukraine. It will house a library, video collection, conference and programming rooms, on-line data bases, student advising center and USIS offices.
USIA Programs We have concentrated our programming efforts on the areas of democratic, economic and educational reform, along with support for the development of free, independent media.
We have brought over hundreds of high school students on both short and long-term programs. We have awarded fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of law, business, economics, public administration and education. We have exchanged Fulbright scholars in the above fields as well. We have hosted working visits by Parliamentary delegations, government officials, journalists, and academics on visitor programs. We have sponsored ESL teacher-trainers for academic year programs at Ukrainian universities and provided large quantities of English language teaching materials for training Ukrainian teachers of English. We have supported various training programs in business, journalism and local government.
"Window on America" - USIA's VOA and Worldnet TV have combined efforts to produce a weekly, Ukrainian-language television program in magazine format. It is broadcast throughout Ukraine on Ukrainian State Television during prime time every Saturday evening.
USIA PROGRAMS IN BELARUS Post and People
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (71012) 34-77-61 U.S. Embassy Starovilenskaya 46 Minsk
USIA opened its post in Minsk in June of 1992 with a temporary Public Affairs Officer. The first permanent PAO arrived in November 1992. Currently, the USIS staff is composed of two American officers: The PAO and an America House Director, and four foreign service nationals.
USIS Minsk is currently finalizing a lease agreement for an America House site at a local academic institution. While the site is under renovation, USIS Minsk will move from the chancery to a temporary site, to allow for program and staff expansion. When complete, the America House will be the center for all USIS programming in Belarus and will house a library, video collection, conference and programming rooms, on-line data bases, and USIS offices.
USIA Programs We have concentrated our programming efforts on the areas of democratic, economic and educational reform. We have brought over dozens of high school students for academic year programs, hosted working visits of members of Parliament and government officials, journalists, and academics. We have supported English teacher training by exchange of Fulbright professors and English teachers, and supplied quantities of English language teaching materials for teacher trainers. We have also supported university linkage programs and hosted university officials for study tours on educational reform. USIS Minsk has supplied a number of publications on democracy, free market and free, independent media printed in Russian language to government officials, academics, and schools.
USIA PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA Post and People
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (7885) 215-1144 U.S. Embassy Bagramyan Ave. 18 Yerevan
USIA opened its post in Yerevan in October 1993 with one Public Affairs Officer. Currently the USIS staff is composed of two American officers: the PAO and the America House Director (October 1993) and four foreign service nationals.
USIS Yerevan opened its library and English teaching resource center at a temporary site in the library of the nearby Armenian American University. USIA Yerevan is planning to open an America House at the U.S. Embassy Annex as soon as renovations can be completed, most likely by the end of 1993. It will be the center of all USIS programming in Yerevan and will house the video collection, conference and programming rooms, on-line data bases, a press center and USIS offices. The library will be transferred when additional space is available.
USIA Programs We have concentrated our programming efforts on the areas of democratic, economic and educational reform. We have brought over dozens of high school students for short-term and academic year exchanges, have hosted numerous government officials, journalists, and academics on visitor programs. The post has a well-coordinated English teacher training program all over the country in cooperation with the Armenian American University and the Peace Corps. USIS Yerevan has published its own English teaching materials along with locally-printed USIA English teaching publications and has distributed them widely. We have supported university linkage programs and various training programs in journalism, media management, business and local government. USIS Yerevan joined forces with AID and the Peace Corps to conduct a secondary school teacher training program in business and market economy, with two visiting officials of the Junior Achievement Program.
USIA PROGRAMS IN AZERBAIJAN Post and People
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (78922) 65-10-02 U.S. Embassy Prospect Azadlig 83 Baku
USIA has opened its post in Baku in January 1993 with a Public Affairs Officer. Currently, the USIS staff is composed of the Public Affairs Officer, an America House Director (October 1993) and four foreign service nationals.
USIS Baku is currently located in the Embassy building. The newly-arrived America House Director will look for a site for the permanent America House. In the interim, a temporary, smaller library will be set up in the Embassy. When completed, the America House will be the center for USIS programming in Baku and will house a library, video collection, conference and programming rooms, on-line data bases, and USIS offices.
USIA Programs USIA programs in Azerbaijan are subject to the restrictions of Section 907 of the Freedom Support of 1992 which states that any assistance to the government of Azerbaijan is prohibited. We have been in able to conduct programs in fields not covered by the restrictions, notably: secondary school exchange, graduate and undergraduate fellowships for individual students, and training programs for independent journalists. USIS Baku will concentrate efforts on democratic, economic and educational reform to the extent permitted under the restrictions. The post has been active in support for free and independent media.
USIA PROGRAMS IN RUSSIA Post and People
U.S. Information Service -- Tel. (7095) 252-2400 U.S. Embassy Novinskiy Bulvar 19/21/23 Moscow
USIS Moscow, located in the U.S. Embassy, is currently staffed by a Public Affairs Officer (PAO), a Deputy PAO, a Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO), an Information Officer (IO), four Assistant CAO's and two Assistant IO's, and Executive officer and an English Language Teaching Officer. Eventually this staff will be complemented by 27 Russian assistants working in the cultural and information offices.
USIS St. Petersburg has a Branch Public Affairs Officer, one assistant BPAO and one American secretary. Currently located in the U.S. Consulate building, completion of renovated quarters in the Marble Palace, a national museum located in the heart of the city, is scheduled for late October, 1993. This new site will house USIS offices, an American library, meeting and conference rooms, and access to on-line data bases.
USIS Vladivostok opened this year and the first BPAO arrived at post in August. While awaiting final selection of a permanent America House location, USIS offices are housed in temporary office space outside the U.S. Consulate. When completed, the America House will be the center for USIS programming in the Russian Far East and will house a library, video collection, conference and programming rooms, on-line data bases, and USIS offices.
USIA Programs the full range of USIS program activities are possible in nearly every district and republic in Russia. As elsewhere, efforts are concentrated in the key programming areas identified with the Freedom Support Act and Technical Assistance programs linked to U.S. assistance efforts. Freedom Support grants make it possible for officials at the highest levels of government to visit U.S. counterparts for constructive visits. Projects in local government reform, reform of the judicial system, and media education and training are priority programming areas. The opening of the Russian Far East dramatically increases the size of our key audiences for programs in economic development and democratization, and base programs. Most importantly, USIS officers are able to travel and meet with Russians in a variety of settings, enabling us to identify emerging leaders and thus assist in the democratization and economic development of Russia by offering training and internship opportunities to Russia's next generation of leaders.