Palms & Company Document

Progress Report on U.S. Democratic Development Assistance to Russia

by

Dr. Pyotr Johannevich van de Waal-Palms

Promoting Democracy: Progress Report on U.S. Democratic Development

Assistance to Russia (Report Date 02/29/96, Report name: GAO/NSIAD-96-40).

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed U.S.-funded democracyprograms in Russia, focusing on whether these projects met theirdevelopmental goals and contributed to political reform during fiscalyears 1990 through 1994.

GAO found that:

(1) U.S.-funded democracy projects have increased the quality and self-sufficiency of Russia's democracy movement by assisting prodemocracy political activists and parties, pro reform trade unions, court systems, legal academies, government officials, and media organizations, but the results of Russian democracy projects have been mixed;

(2) although U.S.-funded projects contributed to improvements in the Russian news media, trade unions, and electoral system projects designed to improve political party development, the rule of law, and civil-military relations have fallen short of desired goals;

(3) the most important factor in project success has been the conduciveness of the Russian environment to reform;

(4) the Department of State and Agency for International Development believe that Russian pro-democratic reforms will take longer than previously anticipated; and

(5)U.S.-funded projects have not had a significant impact on reformist national political party organizations, membership, or electoral performance, since reformist parties have been unwilling or unable to form coalitions, build national organizations, or convince the Russian public to support their political message.

For a complete copy of the report consult Palms Portal To Russia at http://www.peterpalms.com
You can also download the report from http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces160.shtml by using report numberGAO/NSIAD-96-40

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