Press Release Archive: 2004

Dec. 30, 2004
NDI Delegation to Observe Jan. 9 Election for President of Palestinian Authority
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) today announced its delegation that will observe the Jan. 9 election for president of the Palestinian Authority. The 80-member multinational delegation, organized in partnership with The Carter Center, will be co-led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, and former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman. The delegation will include elected officials, electoral and human rights experts, regional specialists, and political and civic leaders from 15 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. NDI and The Carter Center had organized a delegation co-led by President Carter for the 1996 elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council and president of the Palestinian Authority.  


Dec. 23, 2004
Carter Center to Observe the 2005 Palestinian Presidential Election
On Jan. 9 Palestinians will go to the polls to elect a new leader in an election that many in the international community hope will create new opportunities for peace in the Middle East. The election will designate the president of the Palestine Authority, which governs the bulk of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, after longtime leader Yasir Arafat's death in November. The Carter Center is partnering with the National Democratic Institute on a delegation to observe the election; both organizations observed the 1996 election of Arafat. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will co-lead the delegation.  


Dec. 22, 2004
Mission Finds Consensus and Optimisim Surrounding Palestinian Presidential Election, Recommends Immediate Action on Several Key Issues
A pre-election assessment team organized by the National Democratic Institute, in partnership with The Carter Center, has found a remarkable degree of consensus among Palestinian political leaders, civil society activists and political observers surrounding the 9 January 2005 election to choose the next president of the Palestinian Authority, succeeding President Yasser Arafat.  


Dec. 22, 2004
Statement of the National Democratic Institute Pre-Election Assessment Mission to the 2005 Palestinian Presidential Elections
This statement has been prepared by a pre-election assessment team organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in partnership with The Carter Center. The delegation examined technical preparations and the political environment leading up to the presidential election in the West Bank and Gaza, currently scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 9, 2005.  


Dec. 22, 2004
Schistosomiasis: New York Times Feature Examines Vicious Cycle of Disease
The pond was about the size of a school swimming pool, except it was surrounded by dry mud pocked with hundreds of hoofprints. A herd of goats was at one edge, drinking and defecating in the same spot. The sun was going down behind a thorn tree, backlighting 50 naked boys splashing one another in the warm dusk.  


Dec. 21, 2004
Postelection Statement on Mozambique Elections, Dec. 21, 2004 (English and Portuguese)
Continuing its observation of the Dec. 1-2 presidential and legislative elections, The Carter Center has monitored the tabulation of results in provincial capitals and the reclassification of invalid votes at the National Elections Commission (CNE) in Maputo. The Center has followed several issues since the election days that were of concern, including the arrest of Renamo representatives in the Manica, Niassa, and Nampula provinces, delayed poll openings in rural areas of Zambezia, and low voter turnout. The Center will maintain its presence in Mozambique until the conclusion of the elections and then will publish a comprehensive report.  


Dec. 17, 2004
Coca-Cola Executive is Appointed to The Carter Center's Board of Councilors
Ingrid Saunders Jones, a senior vice president of The Coca-Cola Company, has been appointed vice chair of the Carter Center's Board of Councilors. The board is comprised of 202 members who serve as a leadership advisory group that promotes understanding among opinion leaders and the broader community of The Carter Center and its activities.  


Dec. 4, 2004
Postelection Statement on Mozambique Elections, Dec. 4, 2004 (English and Portuguese)
The Carter Center was invited by the National Election Commission (CNE) and welcomed by all major political parties to observe the Dec. 1 – 2 elections. The Center observed the 1999 and 2003 elections, and has been engaged in initiatives in Mozambique, including support for the Agenda 2025 national consensus-building initiative and agriculture production technologies through SG2000.  


Dec. 1, 2004
Mozambique Elections: Center Observers Continue Monitoring Process
Late into the night on Dec. 1, Carter Center observers were phoning in their observations from provinces outside of Maputo, as Mozambicans prepared for a second day of voting. The polls will close at 6 p.m., and ballot counting is expected to continue through Dec. 3.  


Nov. 15, 2004
Lions International Donates $2 Million to River Blindness Eradication in the Americas (English and Spanish)
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced today a $2 million gift from the Lions Clubs International Foundation to accelerate the Carter Center's efforts to eliminate river blindness (onchocerciasis) in the Americas. The contribution will be matched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of a challenge grant to help The Carter Center secure a total of $15 million to halt transmission of the disease throughout the region.  


15 Nov 2004
Carter Center to Observe 2004 Mozambican Presidential Elections (English and Portuguese)
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, his wife, Rosalynn, and former Benin President Nicéphore Soglo will lead a 60-member international delegation to observe Mozambique's presidential and legislative elections. The Carter Center, which observed the 1999 national elections and the 2003 municipal elections, was invited by the National Election Commission and welcomed by all major political parties to observe the Dec. 1 - 2 elections.  


Nov. 11, 2004
Statement by Jimmy Carter on the Death of Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat's death marks the end of an era and will no doubt be painfully felt by Palestinians throughout the Middle East and elsewhere in the world.  


Nov. 4, 2004
Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy: Transforming Mental Health for Children and Families is 2004 Focus
Millions of American adults who have mental illnesses are leading lives of quiet desperation. For many, their conditions began when they were children, but there was no help for them then. It doesn't have to be that way today.  


Oct. 26, 2004
Carter Center Hosts Chinese Election Officials to Observe U.S. Election Day
The Carter Center will host 35 Chinese electoral officials Nov. 2 around Atlanta and Chattanooga to observe U.S. Election Day. The delegation will arrive in Atlanta Oct. 30, and before Election Day, they will hear from Georgia election and elected officials on campaigning, encouraging the electorate to vote, and on the election process.  


Oct. 15, 2004
Carter Center Declines to Observe Venezuelan Regional Elections Oct. 31 (English and Spanish)
The Carter Center thanks the Venezuelan National Electoral Council for its invitation received Oct. 8 to observe the election of governors and mayors, but the Center, unfortunately, has had to decline the invitation.  


Oct. 13, 2004
President Carter to View Hurricane Damage in Grenada
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will visit Grenada Oct. 14-15 to help focus international attention on the catastrophic needs of the island ravaged by Hurricane Ivan last month.  


Oct. 8, 2004
Congratulatory Statement on Nobel Peace Prize 2004 from Nobel Laureate Jimmy Carter
Rosalynn and I are pleased to congratulate Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize.  


Oct. 7, 2004
Candlelight Ceremony to Mark World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day, sponsored by the World Federation for Mental Health, will be observed Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004, with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter as honorary chair.  


Sept. 30, 2004
Center Issues Executive Summary of Comprehensive Report, 2004 Venezuela Elections (English and Spanish)
This is the executive summary of the comprehensive report of the Carter Center's observation of the signature collection, verification, reparos, and the recall referendum in Venezuela. As the formal appeals and dispute adjudication process is still ongoing, we will issue an addendum to this report if needed at the conclusion of these formal appeals. (English and Spanish, PDF)  


Sept. 28, 2004
Event to Highlight Jamaica's International Right to Know Day
In recognition of International Right to Know Day, the public is invited Tuesday to hear an update on the implementation of Jamaica's Access to Information Act at the Courtleigh Hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, at 10 a.m. Minister of Information the Hon. Senator Burchell Whiteman, the Carter Center's Laura Neuman, Neville James of the Media Association of Jamaica, and Dr. Carolyn Gomes, executive director of Jamaicans for Justice, will speak at the event.  


Sept. 22, 2004
C-SPAN, Georgia Public Broadcasting to Air Conversations
Upcoming air dates for interview with President Carter, Conversations at The Carter Center.  


Sept. 22, 2004
Postelection Statement on Indonesia Election, Sept. 22, 2004
The second round of Indonesia's historic first direct presidential election has taken place successfully, in a general atmosphere of calm, order, and open participation. The Carter Center congratulates the people and leaders of Indonesia for the successful conduct of the presidential election and for the peaceful atmosphere that has prevailed throughout Indonesia's three rounds of elections in 2004. This represents a major step in the country's ongoing democratic transition.  


Sept. 21, 2004
Live Webcast with President and Mrs. Carter Set for Sept. 21
A live webcast with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will kick off the 2004-2005 season of the international issues discussion series Conversations at The Carter Center, Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The webcast is free to the public on the Carter Center Web site:  www.cartercenter.org . 


Sept. 20, 2004
Mental Health Journalism Fellows Break Down Walls of Discrimination, Stereotypes
Although it impacts almost every family in the world, mental illness remains one of the least discussed--and most misunderstood--medical conditions.  


Sept. 15, 2004
Carter Center to Observe Indonesia Presidential Runoff
The Carter Center will deploy 57 observers this week in preparation to observe the Indonesian presidential runoff Sept. 20. The Center, which observed the 1999 and the 2004 presidential elections, was invited by the General Election Commission and welcomed by all major political parties to observe the runoff.  


Sept. 15, 2004
Larry King Live to Feature Carters, Address Mental Health Issues
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter are the scheduled guests on CNN's Larry King Live, Monday, Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. EDT.  


Sept. 10, 2004
Rosalynn Carter to Open World Conference on Mental Health
Former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter will open the third world conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioural Disorders being held Sept. 14-17, 2004, at the Hyatt Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand. Mrs. Carter, honorary chair of the conference, has worked for more than 30 years to help people with mental illnesses and their families.  


Sept. 5, 2004
The Carter Center Statement About Statistical Assessment of the Venezuela Referendum Results (English and Spanish)
Upon receiving complains from the opposition Coordinadora Democrática about suspected irregularities in the voting results recorded in the machine, specifically, a pattern of tied results among two or three machines in the same voting tables, The Carter Center consulted with several statisticians.  


Aug. 21, 2004
Last Phase of the Venezuelan Recall Referendum: Carter Center Report (English and Spanish)
The Carter Center has maintained an office and a director in Venezuela since September 2002, at the invitation of the Government of Venezuela and the opposition Coordinadora Democratica. The Center was invited by the National Electoral Council (CNE) to observe the recall referendum process beginning November 2003. The Center has organized five international observer delegations between November 2003 and August 2004, and maintained a longer-term team to observe the four month verification process from January-April 2004.  


Aug. 14, 2004
Venezuela Recall Referendum: Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (English and Spanish)
I am delighted to be back in Caracas, with my good friends Cesar Gaviria, Raul Alfonsín, Belisario Betancur and Rodrigo Carazo to observe the recall referendum tomorrow.


Aug. 13, 2004
Statement by President Carter Upon his Departure from Guyana
I would like to thank once again President Jagdeo and Chairman Corbin for inviting me to visit Guyana. I have had an opportunity to meet with a wide range of organizations and individuals, who all have given generously of their time and have shared their opinions and suggestions.  


Aug. 11, 2004
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Upon His Arrival in Guyana
I want to thank President Jagdeo for his invitation and look forward to meeting with him, Robert Corbin, and members of Guyanese civil society.  


Aug. 10, 2004
Carter Center Delegates Arrive in Venezuela Aug. 11 to Observe Presidential Recall Referendum (English and Spanish)
Invited by the National Election Council (CNE) to observe the presidential recall referendum on Aug. 15, the Carter Center delegation of experienced observers from 14 countries arrives Wednesday to complement the core team already in Caracas.  


Aug. 6, 2004
The New Season: Conversations at The Carter Center
The Carter Center announces an informative and innovative series of evening discussions, open to the public and to the media. This season's schedule is designed to increase awareness of national and global issues. A distinguished panel consisting of Carter Center experts and special guests make presentations followed by question-and-answer periods with the audience.  


Aug. 2, 2004
Postelection Statement on Indonesia Elections, Aug. 2, 2004
In support of Indonesia's ongoing democratization and political reform, The Carter Center is continuing to monitor this election, as Indonesian voters for the first time directly choose their president. The Carter Center was invited by the election commission (KPU) and welcomed by all major political parties.  


July 26, 2004
Pre-Election Statement on Mozambique Elections, July 26, 2004 (English and Portuguese)
In response to an invitation issued by the National Elections Commission (CNE), The Carter Center observed the voter registration update in Mozambique from June 28 to July 15. With observers from five countries-Belgium, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Guinea-Conakry, and the United States-The Carter Center visited 151 registration brigades in nine provinces.  


July 15, 2004
Statement of Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the Impending Referendum in Bolivia (English and Spanish)
I urge Bolivians to maintain a calm and peaceful atmosphere as they go to vote on the issues surrounding the hydrocarbons law and management of the gas sector this weekend.  


July 9, 2004
The Carter Center Awards 2004-2005 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism
The Carter Center's Mental Health Program has named 10 recipients of its eighth annual Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, including two from New Zealand and the first two from South Africa.  


July 8, 2004
Corporate Volunteers to Help Assemble 30,000 Medical Kits for Sudan, Ghana, and Nigeria (Press Release)
More than 300 corporate volunteers and members of the diplomatic community in Atlanta will join Carter Center staff July 13-30 to assemble 30,000 medical kits to use in the effort to eradicate the last 1 percent of Guinea worm disease left in the world.  


July 7, 2004
Postelection Statement on Indonesia Elections, July 7, 2004 (English and Bahasa)
In support of Indonesia's ongoing democratization and political reform, The Carter Center is pleased to observe this historic election, as Indonesian voters for the first time directly choose their president. The Carter Center, which observed the 1999 national elections, was invited by the election commission (KPU) and welcomed by all major political parties.  


July 3, 2004
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on his Upcoming Visit to Guyana I have accepted an invitation from President Jagdeo to visit Guyana. The Carter Center has been involved in Guyana for more than a decade.  


June 25, 2004
Pre-Election Statement on Indonesia Elections, June 25, 2004
In support of Indonesia's ongoing process of democratization and political reform, The Carter Center is pleased to witness the historic 2004 election, when Indonesian voters for the first time will directly choose their president.  


June 24, 2004
Prepared Testimony for the Hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics on The State of Democracy in Venezuela, June 24, 2004, 2 p.m. (PDF)


June 24, 2004
Testimonio preparado para la Audiencia de la Subcomision del Senado sobre el Hemisferio Occidental, Cuerpos de Paz y Narcoticos sobre (Espanol, PDF)
"El proceso de referéndum revocatorio venezolano" Dra. Jennifer McCoy, Directora, Programa de las Américas, El Centro Carter; Profesora de Ciencias Políticas, Georgia State University.  


June 21, 2004
Carter Center to Observe Indonesia Elections
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, his wife, Rosalynn, and former Thailand Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai will lead a 60-member international delegation to observe Indonesia's presidential elections.  


June 19, 2004
Carter Center Hosts Meeting on Venezuela Constitutional Process
Representing the Carter Center, President Jimmy Carter hosted a meeting on June 18, 2004, between Venezuelan President Hugo Cháves Frías and Venezuelan entrepreneur Gustavo Cisneros.  


June 14, 2004
Statement from Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Effort to Reclassify Nuclear Waste
As governor of Georgia I fought unsafe burial of nuclear waste from the Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, South Carolina. SRS reprocessed spent nuclear fuel to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons during the Cold War, leaving behind by-products of liquid and slurry high-level nuclear waste. Today, 37 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste containing millions of curies of lethal radioactivity remain in 51 aging tanks at SRS, still awaiting a permanent solution. The tanks are located in the water table, near the Savannah River, and amid the Tuscaloosa Aquifer, which Georgia and other states depend on for drinking water.  


June 11, 2004
Niger Latrine Program Aids Trachoma Prevention
An assessment of the Carter Center's latrine project in Niger, undertaken to reduce incidence of trachoma, has shown encouraging results. After one year, household latrines are widely accepted, used and maintained.  


June 7, 2004
Statement from President Carter on the Death of President Reagan Rosalynn and I join millions of people around the world who mourn the loss of President Reagan.  


June 4, 2004
OAS/Carter Center Statement on Reparos Results in Venezuela
Today the joint mission of the Organization of American States and The Carter Center has become aware of the official announcement of the preliminary results from the reparos process, which concludes an important phase in the convocation of recall referenda. The joint mission wishes to again congratulate the electoral authorities, the government of President Hugo Chávez Frías, the actors involved in the convocation of recall referenda, and all citizens for the reaffirmation of their commitment to the defense and strengthening of the democratic system, as well as to the maintenance of peace and tranquility.  


June 4, 2004
Volunteer Attorneys Panel Launched in Jamaica for Freedom of Information Cases
The Carter Center, in collaboration with the Jamaican Bar Association and the Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights, launched the Volunteer Attorneys Panel to provide free legal representation to those denied their right to government information. The launch, as part of a Continuing Legal Education series held May 29, 2004, focused on the new Jamaican Access to Information Act and enforcement of similar laws in other countries.   


May 27,  2004
Sudan Peace Protocols: A Statement by President Jimmy Carter
I am pleased that the Sudan peace talks made important progress yesterday with the signings of additional significant agreements in Navaisha, Kenya. All concerned should be congratulated for their dedication to working through the difficult details of these protocols. The world looks forward to a final, comprehensive accord. This will mark the true beginning of the hard work of implementing the agreements and building peace throughout Sudan. 


May 26, 2004
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Talks in the Tomato Industry I have followed with concern for a number of years the appalling working conditions in the Florida-based tomato industry. While production costs in the industry have increased over the last 25 years, wages have been effectively stagnant, as giant cooperative buying mechanisms hold prices down.  


May 24, 2004
Venezuelan Reparos: A Statement from the Organization of American States and The Carter Center on the First Phase
In the framework of the invitation from the National Electoral Council (CNE) and the Venezuelan government, the Organization of the American States and The Carter Center have observed the first phase of the reparos, or signature repair, process for the recall referenda on representatives of the National Assembly.  


May 21, 2004
Carter Center Completes Guyana Project
The Carter Center will be closing its project office in Guyana at the end of May 2004, having completed its most recent project in the country. Since 2000, the Center has been implementing the More Responsive and Participatory Governance and Rule of Law in Guyana project financed by the United States Agency for International Development, in partnership with the National Democratic Institute and the International Foundation for Election Systems. As part of this project, the Center has worked to improve the influence of civil society on public policy and to strengthen the administration of justice in Guyana.  


May 20, 2004
Carter Center Appoints Atlanta Leaders to Board of Councilors The Carter Center, a not-for-profit organization working to promote health and peace worldwide, recently appointed 20 new members to its Board of Councilors, bringing its membership to 202.  


May 19, 2004
Merck Donation Accelerates River Blindness Elimination in the Americas
Merck & Co., Inc., has donated $1 million to the Carter Center's effort to eliminate river blindness disease in the Americas in this decade.  


May 17, 2004
Press Release of the National Electoral Council and the Joint Mission of the OAS and The Carter Center (English and Spanish)
In recent days, at the request of representatives of the election observation mission of the Organization of American States and The Carter Center, informal communication with the authorities of the National Electoral Council (CNE) has been maintained, in which they have lessened friction caused by recent public statements.  


May 17, 2004
Carter Center Hosts Access to Information Seminars in May
The Carter Center is hosting three seminars in late May on access to information issues, including how to use the Access to Information Act, how to appeal denials, and the interlocking triangle: access to information, officials secrets act and public interest disclosure. The seminars underscore the importance of public discussion on existing and future legislation to increase accountability and transparency in Jamaica.  


May 13, 2004
The Organization of American States and The Carter Center Wish to Clarify the Scope and Sense of Their Last Statement (English and Spanish)
The joint mission of the Organization of American States and The Carter Center wish to clarify the scope and sense of its last statement, as well as to reiterate its respect and consideration for the electoral authority, which has generously permitted both organizations to work as international observers in the process of the referenda request.  


May 12, 2004
Carter Center, OAS to Observe Recall Reparo Period in Venezuela (English and Spanish)
The Organization of American States and The Carter Center will observe the two scheduled reparos (recall signatures corrections) processes in Venezuela, May 21-23 and May 28-30.  


May 12, 2004
Sudan Film, Discussion to Focus on Human Cost of War
Sudan again is in the news, on the brink of a historic peace between North and South, yet suffering through a new and terrible war in the West. What happens to the people driven from their homes by the fighting?  


May 11, 2004
Carter Center Statement on Paramilitary Forces in Venezuela
Today the national government, represented at the Enlace Mechanism (established by the May 29, 2003, accord) by deputies Nicolás Maduro and Desireé Santos Amaral, has informed the group's facilitators of the delicate situation regarding the detention of a group of foreign mercenaries. These mercenaries may be willing to initiate violent and criminal actions against military and political targets. The Carter Center vehemently condemns the presence of all types of irregular or paramilitary forces in Venezuela, as well as the use of force for political ends.  


May 5, 2004
Georgia Mental Health Forum Focuses on Making New Freedom Commission Goals Reality
On Wednesday, May 12, the 2004 Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum will bring together experts and policy-makers in an effort to implement recommendations from the final report of President Bush's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Tens of thousands of Georgians have suffered a breakdown in availability and delivery of public mental health services as a result of massive budget cutbacks and repeated management reorganizations over the last several years. The presidential report finds that mental health systems are in a shambles and makes strong recommendations for rebuilding, but state and local agencies are left to implement them.   


May 3, 2004
Carter Center Opens Office in Jakarta in Preparation to Observe Indonesia's Presidential Elections
The Carter Center opened an office last week in Jakarta to begin a long-term observation of electoral conditions leading up to Indonesia's July 5 presidential elections. This observation will continue through to early October should a Sept. 20 runoff prove necessary.  


April 29, 2004
Statement by OAS and Carter Center Observation Mission to Venezuela
Yesterday the Democratic Coordinator publicly announced their intention to participate in the repair (reparos) process. The Organization of American States and the Carter Center mission recognizes the efforts made by the National Electoral Council, the Comando Ayacucho, and the Venezuelan opposition organizations to find through dialogue and consensus favorable conditions in which Venezuelans can exercise their rights in this important stage of the process. We believe that they have offered the necessary guarantees so that citizens can assert their will, either by reaffirming their signature or withdrawing it.  


April 15, 2004
Venezuela Recall Referendum Petition Process: A Statement from the OAS and The Carter Center (English and Spanish)
The OAS and The Carter Center have been participating in the meetings that the CNE has formally held about the mechanisms for the correction period, in order to listen to the proposals and concerns of the actors involved in the recall referendum process.  


March 9, 2004
Carter Center Holds Conference With Nongovernmental Organizations
The Carter Center and its partner groups will hold a conference this weekend on issues of interest to nongovernmental organizations in Guyana, including participation in public policy, collaboration with government and the private sector, networking among nongovernmental organizations, and the legal framework for such organizations.  


March 5, 2004
2004-2005 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism: Applications Being Accepted
Applications are now being accepted for six one-year journalism fellowships with the Mental Health Program of The Carter Center. Designed to enhance public understanding of mental health issues and combat stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses, the fellowships begin in September 2004.  


March 2, 2004
Declaration on Venezuela by the OAS and The Carter Center (English/Spanish)
Today, the National Electoral Council made public the preliminary official results of the process of verification of signatures for the petition to recall the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The presence of the Organization of American States and The Carter Center throughout all stages has been continuous, thorough, and comprehensive. During the petition drive some 50 international observers covered more than 50 percent of the signature collection centers in 20 states throughout the country, witnessing first hand the democratic and civic spirit demonstrated by all Venezuelans. In the ongoing process of verification of the signatures, the OAS has accompanied the CNE in each technical stage, working three shifts 24 hours per day, observing these activities in detail. The Carter Center carried out an analysis of the process based on a statistically representative sample to determine whether the verification criteria used by the CNE were applied correctly. We would like to extend our appreciation to the European Union and to the countries of the hemisphere that have supported our efforts with resources and public recognition of our work.  


Feb. 29, 2004
'Winter Weekend' Auction Raises More Than $800,000 to Support Carter Center The Carter Center's 12th annual


Feb. 24, 2004
Joint Statement on Venezuela Signature Verification Process: OAS, The Carter Center (English and Spanish)
The Organization of the American States and The Carter Center have been observing the process of collection, verification, and validation of signatures developed by the National Electoral Council to determine whether current requests for recall referenda will be adequate. This work has been at the invitation of the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the electoral authority and in the framework of the agreement of May 23, 2003, as a result of the Table of Negotiation and Agreements.  


Feb. 13, 2004
Joint Statement by The Carter Center and OAS on Venezuela (English and Spanish)
Since last November, the Mission of the Organization of the American States and The Carter Center has been observing the process of verification and validation of signatures that the National Electoral Council is implementing to determine the possibility of a recall referenda.  

Feb. 4, 2004
Carter Center, WHO, UNICEF Call for Urgency in Fight to Eradicate Guinea Worm Disease in West Africa
(A press release from The Carter Center, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF.) Today 650 kilometers north of Ghana's capital city, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and senior officials from The Carter Center, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF made a historic visit to the endemic Guinea worm village of Dashie to urge Ghana to finish the eradication of Guinea worm disease.   


Jan. 29, 2004
President Carter to Travel to Mali Feb. 5-7 to Meet with President Toure (English and French)
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will travel to Mali Feb. 5-7 on behalf of the Carter Center's Global Development Initiative. They will meet with President Amadou Toumani Touré to launch the Development and Cooperation Initiative, a multi-year effort to help reduce poverty in Mali.  


Jan. 28, 2004
"Winter Weekend" Auction Features President Carter Self-Portrait
President Carter has painted the first known self-portrait by any president, and it will be among many other exclusive items auctioned to benefit the not-for-profit Carter Center on Feb. 28 in Snowbird, Utah.  


Jan. 22, 2004
Carter Center, WHO, UNICEF Escalate Efforts Against Guinea Worm Disease in West Africa (English and French)
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and his wife, Rosalynn, will travel on behalf of The Carter Center to West Africa Feb. 2-6, 2004, to call international attention to the need to eliminate the last 1 percent of Guinea worm disease remaining in the world.  


Jan. 21, 2004
President Carter and The Carter Center Encourage Guatemala's New Leaders to Ensure Full Implementation of Human Rights Aspects of Peace Accords (English and Spanish)
The Carter Center joins the international community in congratulating President Oscar Berger and Guatemala's newly elected congressional deputies and local majors. After decades of devastating civil war and with little progress on implementing the 1996 Peace Accords, the new administration has an important opportunity to work with political leaders and civil society to make significant progress in fulfilling the longstanding aspirations of all Guatemalans.  


Jan. 20, 2004
Postelection Statement on Mozambique Elections, Jan. 20, 2004 (English and Portuguese)
The Carter Center welcomes the Jan.15, 2004, Constitutional Council of Mozambique announcement of final results for the Nov. 2003 municipal elections.  


Jan. 15, 2004
President Carter to Advance Venezuela Peace and Democracy Accord (English and Spanish)
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will travel to Caracas, Venezuela on behalf of The Carter Center Jan. 25-27 to advance the Peace and Democracy Accord. President Carter will meet with Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, the National Electoral Council, opposition leaders, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court.