(a1plus.am) - Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), visited Armenia on November 29. In Yerevan, Mr. Wollack met with senior Armenian government officials to review NDI activities and outline its nonpartisan programs to help strengthen democracy in Armenia, reports Trend.
Mr. Wollack emphasized that NDI is working with a broad range of Armenian political parties and civic groups in support of the U.S. government's Election Related Assistance Strategy, which can be found on the U.S. Embassy Yerevan website at www.usa.am/democracy. This strategy, which was developed with the Government of Armenia, seeks to help develop institutions in advance of parliamentary and presidential elections in Armenia.
NDI, chaired by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that seeks to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide. NDI has received grant funding from the U.S. Government to promote its democratic development efforts in Armenia. The Institute also works cooperatively with other governments and intergovernmental groups, such as UNDP and OSCE. NDI provides practical assistance to civic and political leaders with the goal of advancing democratic values, practices and institutions. NDI works in every region of the world to build political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and to promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.
Kenneth Wollack has been President of NDI since March 1993. He joined the Institute in 1986 as executive vice president, and has traveled extensively in Eastern and Central Europe, the former Soviet Union, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa on behalf of the Institute's political development programs. Before joining NDI, Mr. Wollack co-edited the Middle East Policy Survey, a Washington-based newsletter. He also wrote regularly on foreign affairs for the Los Angeles Times. In addition to heading NDI, Mr. Wollack also serves as chairman of the U.S. Committee of the UNDP.