A press release forwarded to me from my daughter who is an employee of the
National Democratic Institute in Washington DC.
________________

1717 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.

Fifth Floor

Washington, D.C.  20036
Phone: (202)  328-3136
Fax:  (202)  939-3166
http://www.ndi.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jean Freedberg  (202) 797-
4785

JANUARY 11,
2001
                      Cell Phone  (202) 903-7494

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TO ASSUME CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
INSTITUTE

WASHINGTON DC --The Board of Directors of the National Democratic Institute
for International Affairs (NDI) announced today that United States
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright would become chairman of the Board of
the Institute when she leaves office.  Albright had served as vice chair of
the democracy promotion organization when it was founded in 1983.

“We will be fortunate to benefit from Madeleine Albright=s leadership as
NDI responds to new opportunities and challenges in assisting courageous
democrats throughout the world who promote peaceful political change in
nondemocratic countries and work to consolidate pluralist institutions in
new democracies,” said NDI President Kenneth Wollack.

As chairman of NDI, Albright succeeds Paul Kirk, co-chairman of the
Commission on Presidential Debates, chairman of the John F. Kennedy Library
Foundation, and former chairman of the Democratic Party.

“Madeleine Albright’s life experience and public service have personified
the mission of this Institute,@ said Kirk.   “As a diplomat, scholar and
activist, she has been a forceful and consistent voice for the worldwide
democracy movement.”

“Paul Kirk has led NDI for nearly eight years, providing guidance and
support for all of our democratic development programs,” Wollack
said.  “His leadership has been central to the growth of the Institute.”
Kirk will continue to remain active with NDI as a member of the Institute’s
Senior Advisory Committee.

Kirk followed former Vice President Walter Mondale as NDI chairman. Former
Democratic Party chairman Charles Manatt also chaired the Institute.

Kirk noted that US democracy promotion efforts enjoy bipartisan support
by “reflecting the moral values and serving the strategic interests of the
United States.”   “A more democratic world is a more peaceful, stable and
prosperous place,” he said.

Supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, the US Agency for
International Development and private contributions, NDI is a nonprofit
organization working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide.  Calling
on a global network of volunteer experts, NDI provides practical assistance
to civic and political leaders advancing democratic values, practices and
institutions.  NDI works with democrats in every region of the world to
build political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and promote
citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.


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