The Foreign Service Journal, December 2004

President Eduard Shevardnadze, the United States quietly cultivated pro-democracy groups and individu- als in the country, most notably Mikhail Saakashvili, who studied law in the United States under a govern- ment-sponsored program. In the wake of fraudulent parliamentary elections in November 2003, mass protests in which Saakashvili played a key leadership role were held and Shevardnadze was forced from office within weeks. Georgians then moved quickly to hold presidential elections. Saakashvili won by a land- slide, and Powell attended his inau- gural on Jan. 25. Powell later sent a memo to all State Department employees on the positive pro-democracy role the United States can play, citing Georgia as an example. “Through good diplo- macy and good assistance programs,” Powell wrote, “the United States has not just made friends with a new gov- ernment, but we have a friendship with the Georgian people that will last for generations. This is a model worth replicating.” The U.S. human rights umbrella has been expanding lately. Non- governmental organizations from the religious right to the feminist left are embracing the administration’s efforts to combat trafficking in persons or, as Ambassador-at-Large John R. Miller calls it, “modern-day slavery.” In its most gruesome manifestation, women and children are kidnapped, forcibly taken to another country and sexually exploited. The White House imposed sanctions against Venezuela in September for failing to take steps to combat the problem. The administration is also keeping closer watch on religious freedom these days. In an unusual censure of a key ally in the war on terrorism, the administration in September accused Saudi Arabia of “particularly severe violations” of religious freedom. A 1999 law gives the administration D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 51 korman communities arlington CORPORATE SUITES arlington, va 880 north pollard street 866.korman.4 : kormancommunities.com live better. brand new luxury high rise : fully appointed one, one bed- room dens and two bedroom corporate suites : state of the art fitness and business centers : heated outdoor lap pool : custom made mahogany furniture : fully equipped kitchens : luxury towels and linens : soft, firm or hypoallergenic pil- low selection : weekday club breakfast serving Starbucks ® Coffee : afternoon Tazo ® Tea : digital premium cable and high speed internet : 27” and 20” sony wega tv and dvd : sony cd stereo : free local phone : on-site management, maintenance, housekeeping : concierge services : walking distance to ballston common mall, ballston and virginia square metro stops