WASHINGTON – In a speech at the U.S. Institute of Peace yesterday, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell hailed the Iraqi people for their courage in "taking risks at all levels…to serve their country” and praised the Allawi government for its "crucial first steps” to form a democratic society. He identified the new Iraqi administrative law as "a revolutionary document for this part of the world,” noted that a national conference is scheduled next month to select an interim Iraqi national counci...

WASHINGTON—Vivek Viswanathan of New Hyde Park, N.Y. was awarded first prize in this year's National Peace Essay Contest (NPEC), sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Peace. A student at Herricks High School, Viswanathan received a $10,000 college scholarship for his essay titled "Establishing Peaceful and Stable Postwar Societies Through Effective Rebuilding Strategy." In announcing the winner at the Institute's annual NPEC awards banquet on June 23, Institute president Richard H. Solomon commen...

The Institute of Peace mourns the passing of former President Ronald Reagan and acknowledges with great appreciation that in 1984 he signed into law the act establishing the Institute and nominated our first Board of Directors. In recognition of his contributions, the Institute awarded him—together with former President Jimmy Carter—the first Spark M. Matsunaga Medal of Peace in 1994.

WASHINGTON—The latest iteration of the U.S. initiative to promote reform in the Middle East, due to be unveiled June 9 at the G-8 Summit, seeks to move the democracy promotion agenda forward. At the same time, the U.S.-led Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative and its centerpiece "forum for the future"—which seeks to bring together G-8 and regional ministers to discuss reform—face critical challenges. Revisions made to the initiative in the past few months attempt to allay concerns...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Institute of Peace is pleased to announce the selection of its 17th class of Senior Fellows in the Jennings Randolph Fellowship Program. Named in honor of former U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph of West Virginia, a founder of the Institute, the program affords leading policy practitioners and researchers opportunities to examine non-violent approaches to the resolution of international conflict and post-conflict stabilization. In welcoming the new group, most of which wi...

WASHINGTON—With little more than a month left until the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq, senior U.S. officials said on Wednesday that the United States would continue to remain heavily engaged in the country. "Our commitment will not lessen after June 30," Ambassador Frank Ricciardone, coordinator for Iraq Transition at the Department of State, told a gathering at the U.S. Institute of Peace. His statements were echoed by General Mick Kicklighter (USA, Ret.), director of the Iraq Transition T...

ASHINGTON—On Monday, May 17, 2004, Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI), John Warner (R-VA), and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced S. Con Res. 109, a resolution honoring the United States Institute of Peace on the 20th anniversary of its establishment. The resolution recognizes "the importance of the founding of the United States Institute of Peace as a national and international resource for peaceful conflict management," and acknowledges the Institute's contribution to "the advancement of peace and co...

WASHINGTON—Fifty-two American high school students have been named winners of the 17th annual National Peace Essay Contest, sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace. Each student will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and compete for the 2004 national first prize, a $10,000 college scholarship. A list of winners, their schools, hometowns, essay titles, and faculty coordinators follows this release.  The contest, which is open to students in all American high schools, is designed ...