Press Release Archive: 2002

Dec. 29, 2002
Postelection Statement on Kenya Elections, Dec. 29, 2002
The Carter Center is pleased to have observed Kenya's presidential, parliamentary, and civic elections on 27 December.   


Dec. 23, 2002
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Venezuela (Spanish and English)
To the people of Venezuela: I want to express to the Venezuelan people my deep concern about the high level of tension as we approach the celebration of Christmas and the New Year. Since last September, as initiators and members of the Tripartite Group, The Carter Center has had a permanent presence in Caracas, working with and supporting the efforts of OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria in the Table of Negotiations and Agreements. We applaud the advances thus far recognizing the need to create a climate of non-violence and to reinforce democratic institutions and principles. We believe that the simple existence of the forum provided by the Table is an achievement that needs to be protected.  


Dec. 19, 2002
Carter Center Working to Empower Women
The Carter Center held a Women's Legal Empowerment Forum in New Amsterdam on Dec. 14, with a turnout of more than 60 participants from East and West Berbice.  

Dec. 17, 2002
Carter Center to Observe Kenyan Elections
The Carter Center today announced it will observe Kenya's national, state, and local elections Dec. 27. Former Zambia President Kenneth Kaunda and former U.S. Ambassador Gordon Streeb, associate executive director of the Center's peace programs, will lead the Center's delegation of 27 observers.  


Nov. 22, 2002
Press Release on the First Statement on the Nigeria Electoral Process, 2003
This statement is the product of the National Democratic Institute and the Carter Center pre-election assessment mission that visited Nigeria Nov. 17-22, 2002.  


Nov. 11, 2002
Carter Center Appoints Ethiopia Public Health Training Director
Joyce P. Murray, Ed.D., R.N., professor of nursing at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing of Emory University, has joined The Carter Center as director of its Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative, a teacher training program enabling Ethiopia to meet staffing needs for more than 500 community health centers nationwide.  


Nov. 8, 2002
Declaration of Former President Jimmy Carter on the Venezuelan Negotiations
I commend the Venezuelan government and opposition grouped under the Coordinadora Democratica for opening the Table of Negotiation and Accords today to resolve the deep differences between them.  


Oct. 31, 2002
'Conversations,' Symposium To Examine Mental Health Implications Of Sept. 11 Attacks National experts and public officials concerned about the mental health implications of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States will gather at the 18th Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy Nov. 6-7 at The Carter Center.   


Oct. 30, 2002
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Invites Leaders to Consider Atlanta for Free Trade of the Americas' Headquarters
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter issued an open letter today inviting Latin Americans to consider making Atlanta the headquarters for the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin read President Carter's letter at a meeting of Latin American business leaders in Quito, Ecuador.  


Oct. 30, 2002
Carta abierta de invitacion a las Americas
Los pa¨ªses del hemisferio occidental est¨¢n estrechando sus lazos hoy m¨¢s que en ning¨²n otro momento de la historia.  


Oct. 25, 2002
Carter Center Launches Small Grants Program in Guyana
The Carter Center¡¯s Guyana office announces the launch of the Small Grants Advocacy Program 2002-2003, which is being organized under the auspices of the U.S. Agency for International Development's program More Responsive and Participatory Governance and Rule of Law in Guyana.  


Oct. 18, 2002
Carter Center Appoints Democracy Program Country Project Director
The Carter Center has appointed Melanie Reimer, a Canadian citizen, as country project director to coordinate its work in Georgetown, Guyana. Reimer will manage programs aimed at strengthening the judicial system and civil society organizations that represent indigenous people, women, and youth.  


Oct. 11, 2002
Acceptance Statement From President Carter
A statement of acceptance of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize from President Jimmy Carter. 


Oct. 8, 2002
Carter Center Delegates Arrive to Monitor Jamaica Elections
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former Costa Rica President Miguel Angel Rodriguez will lead a 55-member international delegation, representing 16 countries, to observe Jamaica's national elections.  


Oct. 7, 2002
Pre-Election Statement on Jamaican Elections, Oct. 7, 2002
The Carter Center, as part of its continuing observation of the Jamaica electoral process, would like to offer the following interim comments. These are based on the findings of 12 international medium term observers, who have monitored the electoral process in 24 constituencies throughout the island since nomination day, September 30.  


Oct. 2, 2002
Rosalynn Carter Inducted Into National Women's Hall of Fame
On Oct. 5, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, vice chair of the Carter Center, will be inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, N.Y. 


Sept. 19, 2002
Statement By Jimmy Carter On The 2002 Jamaican Electoral Process
Jamaicans will no longer tolerate violence during an election period. The electoral authorities and political parties have demonstrated their interest in peaceful elections by establishing mechanisms to reduce conflict. 


Sept. 13, 2002
Proyecto De Comunicado Del Grupo De Trabajo Tripartito
La Mision integrada por funcionarios de la Organizacion de los Estados Americanos (OEA), del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrolo (PNUD) y del Centr Carter.  


Sept. 13, 2002
Venezuela Communique From Tripartite Group (OAS, UNDP, and The Carter Center)
Communique on Venezuela from the mission of officials from the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and The Carter Center.


Sept. 10, 2002
September 11 Anniversary: A Statement From Former President Carter
Statement from former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.  


Sept. 5, 2002
OAS, UNDP and Carter Center Mission To Travel To Venezuela
A mission of the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Carter Center will visit Venezuela on September 9 to 13, 2002, in response to an invitation from the government and the various opposition groups in Coordinadora Democrática.A mission of the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Carter Center will visit Venezuela on September 9 to 13, 2002, in response to an invitation from the government and the various opposition groups in Coordinadora Democrática. 


Aug. 28, 2002
The New Season: Conversations At The Carter Center
The 2002-2003 season of Conversations At The Carter Center, an informative and innovative series of evening discussions, is designed to increase awareness of national and global issues.


Aug. 27, 2002
2002 Pre-Election Statement on Jamaica Elections, Aug. 27, 2002
The Carter Center's second statement on the 2002 parliamentary elections in Jamaica.  


July 26, 2002
Carter Center Statement on IGAD Peace Talks on Sudan
The Carter Center welcomes the outcome of the recent IGAD peace talks on Sudan and applauds all concerned for this renewed commitment to peace. It is our profound hope that the agreements reached mark the beginning of a new era of justice and prosperity throughout Sudan and the region.  


July 23, 2002
Guyana Must Find a Way to Peace and Reconciliation
An open letter from Jimmy Carter  


July 9, 2002
President Carter's Statement At Conclusion Of Venezuela Trip
President Carter, Dr. McCoy, and Ambassador Gordon Streeb arrived in Caracas on July 6 and began a series of meetings with President Hugo Chavez, Vice President Rangel, cabinet ministers, news media executives, Catholic bishops, opposition political parties, civil society leaders, the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers, government political parties, Fedecámaras, National Assembly leaders, and members of the diplomatic corps representing the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, France, Germany, Canada, Japan, Italy, Great Britain, the OAS and the UNDP.  


July 8, 2002
2002-2003 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism
The Carter Center's Mental Health Program today named eight recipients of its sixth annual Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, including two fellows from New Zealand. Each domestic fellow will receive $10,000 to study a particular issue within the mental health field for one year.  


July 6, 2002
Former U.S. President Carter Arrives in Venezuela
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter begins a four-day trip to Caracas today, where he will meet with political and civil society groups to discuss a process for helping to resolve the nation's political crisis. 


June 29, 2002
Center Announces Visit to Venezuela by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
At the invitation of the Government of Venezuela, a five-member delegation of The Carter Center has completed an assessment mission to the country to evaluate the conditions for a dialogue process in the current climate of uncertainty.  


June 29, 2002
El Centro Carter anuncia la visita a Venezuela del Ex Presidente Jimmy Carter
A raíz de la invitación cursada por el Gobierno de Venezuela, una delegación de cinco miembros del Centro Carter realizó una misión al país con el propósito de evaluar las condiciones para un proceso de diálogo en el clima de incertidumbre existente.  


June 20, 2002
Mrs. Carter Responds To Supreme Court Ruling
I applaud the United States Supreme Court's ruling today that executing people with mental retardation constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and is therefore unconstitutional. Today's ruling is the latest, most resounding indication of shifting public attitudes about government executions.  


June 12, 2002
El Centro Carter Anuncia El Envio De Una Mision De Evaluacion A Venezuela
Ante una solicitud formulado la semana pasada por el gobierno venezolano al ex presidente de los Estados Unidos, Jimmy Carter, proponiéndole facilitar el proceso de diálogo nacional; el Centro Carter enviará una pequeña delegación que estará en Caracas entre los días 24 y 29 de junio.  


June 12, 2002
Carter Center Announces Assessment Mission To Venezuela
In response to a request last week from the Venezuela government to former U. S. President Jimmy Carter to facilitate a national dialogue, The Carter Center will send a small assessment team to Caracas June 24-29, 2002, to form a recommendation to President Carter on whether to accept this invitation.  


June 7, 2002
Statement by Jimmy Carter on the Death of Peru Former President Fernando Belaunde Terry
Rosalynn and I lament the passing of Fernando Belaunde Terry, a friend and colleague. Former President Belaunde was a man of honor who restored democracy in Peru.  


June 4, 2002
Former Surgeon General Joins The Carter Center Mental Health Task Force
David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., former U.S. Surgeon General, will join the Carter Center's Mental Health Task Force in September. Chaired by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the task force works to identify mental health issues of major concern, convene diverse constituencies, and develop initiatives to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses.  


May 30, 2002
Carter Center to Observe Jamaica Elections
The Carter Center and its Council of Presidents and Prime Ministers of the Americas have accepted the invitation from the Electoral Advisory Committee of Jamaica to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections.  


May 24,  2002
The Carter Center Appoints Director For Mental Health Program
Thomas H. Bornemann, Ed.D., M.S.W., senior adviser for mental health with the World Health Organization (WHO) department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence, will join The Carter Center August 1 as director of its Mental Health Program.  


May 14, 2002
El texto de la Conferencia del Presidente Carter a la Universidad de Habana
El texto de la Conferencia de Carter y lo que sucedió antes y después en la Aula Magna de la Universidad de La Habana el 14 de mayo, 2002  


May 14, 2002
Remarks by Jimmy Carter at the University of Havana, Cuba
The United States and Cuba: A Vision for the 21st Century I appreciate President Castro's invitation for us to visit Cuba, and have been delighted with the hospitality we have received since arriving here. It is a great honor to address the Cuban people. After a long and agonizing struggle, Cuba achieved its independence a century ago, and a complex relationship soon developed between our two countries.   


May 14, 2002
Declaraciones de Jimmy Carter en la Universidad de la Habana, Cuba
Los Estados Unidos y Cuba: Una Visión Para El Siglo 21 Aprecio debidamente la invitación extendida por el Sr. Presidente Castro para que yo visite Cuba, y estoy encantado con la hospitalidad que hemos recibido desde nuestra llegada. Es un gran honor tener la oportunidad de dirigirme al pueblo cubano.   


May 13, 2002
President Carter's comments at Cuban Biotech Center
It may be that Cuba is unique in having emphasized the health need as a driving force and not just how to make a profit on specific medicines developed. We have also been impressed with the range of cooperation that has been developed between Cuba and other countries on Earth. The results of preventive health care, including vaccinations of children in Cuba is indeed impressive. My hope is that in the future there could be close cooperation between the scientific and medical community in Cuba and that of my own country, the United States. My personal thanks and that of tens of millions of people around the world who have benefited from this research in Cuba I would like personally to emphasize.  


May 12, 2002
Visit of Carter Center Delegation to Cuba


May 9, 2002
Suicide Prevention is Focus of Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum
Atlanta, Ga….A young man, seemingly happy and full of promise, suddenly chooses death over life. Hear local advocate Iris Bolton tell her son's story.  


May 5, 2002
Carter Center Team Arrives in Sierra Leone to Observe Landmark Elections
Carter Center election observers began arriving in Freetown Monday to prepare for Sierra Leone's first post-conflict presidential and parliamentary elections, scheduled for May 14, 2002. The delegation of 25 observers includes election experts, regional specialists, human rights and civic leaders, including representatives from groups in Guinea and Liberia, and expert conflict resolution and human rights staff of The Carter Center. Former Benin President Nicéphore Soglo will co-lead the delegation. The Carter Center made pre-election assessment trips in August 2001 and February 2002 to Sierra Leone and to meet with national political leaders, electoral administrators, domestic and regional civil society organizations, and representatives from the international community.  


April 18, 2002
Carter Center Announces Dates for Historic Trip to Cuba
Accepting an invitation from Cuba President Fidel Castro, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will head a Carter Center delegation to Cuba May 12-17.  


April 15, 2002
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Venezuela
My heart goes out to the Venezuelan people who have suffered the turmoil of the last four days, and especially to the families of those who were killed.  


April 15, 2002
Postelection Statement on East Timor Elections, April 15, 2002
The Carter Center observers witnessed a successful election day in an election that clearly met international standards for freeness and fairness. In the post-election period, democratic development will be needed at all levels of government down to the grassroots if East Timor is to succeed as a democratic nation. It is the responsibility of Timorese civil society and the elected government, with the full support of the international community, to work toward this end.  


April 12, 2002
The Carter Center Praises Preparations for East Timor's First Presidential Elections and Urges Voters to Cast Their Ballots
The Carter Center today praised East Timor's Independent Election Commission for its impressive preparations for Sunday's presidential elections and reassured citizens that their vote will be held in secret. Carter Center observers were deployed March 1 to monitor the pre-electoral environment leading to the territory's first presidential elections. They have visited 12 of the 13 districts in East Timor and have met with political parties, domestic observers, and members of community and nongovernmental groups, and today's report details their observations.  


April 2, 2002
Carter Center, Japanese Government Partner To Eradicate Guinea Worm
In the history of mankind, only one disease, smallpox, has been eradicated. Through the efforts of a worldwide coalition led by The Carter Center and with the generous support of partners such as the Government of Japan, a parasitic disease known as Guinea worm is poised to become the second, and the first disease to be overcome without a single vaccine or medication.  


April 1, 2002
Observando Las Elecciones Nicaraguenses de 2001
El Centro Carter tiene una amplisima experiencia en la observacion de elecciones en todo el mundo, sin embargo la profundidad y la duracion de nuestro compromiso con Nicaragua hacen de ese pais un caso especial.  


March 14, 2002
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Address World Leaders in Mexico at the International Conference on Financing for Development
Following The Carter Center's Development Cooperation Forum in which leaders said the world is not on target for cutting global poverty in half by 2015, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will address international leaders Tuesday at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico.  


March 7, 2002
Postelection Statement on Zambia Elections, March 7, 2002
This is the Carter Center's fourth and final public statement on the Zambian 2001 Tripartite Elections, released 7 March 2002 (PDF format).


March 5, 2002
Carter Center Urges Zimbabweans to Vote
The Carter Center encourages the people of Zimbabwe to remain determined to vote in the presidential elections on March 9-10, 2002, even though the government of Zimbabwe has not met its responsibilities to ensure that conditions for open and peaceful elections are in place.


Feb. 22, 2002
World Leaders Call for an Increased Commitment of Resources by the International Community to Combat Poverty
At a high-level forum at The Carter Center, leaders and representatives of developing countries and international development organizations called attention to the lack of progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty.  


Feb. 20, 2002
President Carter Travels to Sudan to Push Guinea Worm Disease Eradication Efforts
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will participate in the International Conference on the Eradication of Guinea Worm Disease, March 4-7, in Khartoum, Sudan.  


Feb. 11, 2002
Auction Raises $922,040 for the Carter Center
An auction held in Crested Butte, Colo., on Feb. 9 raised $922,040 to support the Atlanta-based, nonprofit Carter Center.  


Jan. 29, 2002
World Leaders Convene at the Carter Center to Address Challenges to Overcoming Global Poverty
World Bank President James Wolfensohn, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Mark Malloch Brown, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Andrew Natsios, Minister of International Development for Norway Hilde Johnson, and Minister of Development Cooperation for the Netherlands Eveline Herfkens will join former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin February 21-22 at The Carter Center to address challenges to economic development and overcoming poverty.  


Jan. 22, 2002
Former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter Host Auction to Benefit the Carter Center
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter will host their 10th annual auction to benefit The Carter Center Feb. 6-10, 2002, at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado.