Members of several Armenian political parties visited IFES on September 22 to learn new techniques for addressing the challenges they face in building their country’s democratic institutions. Program Associate Irina Zaslavskaya welcomed the participants and gave an overview of IFES’ work in Armenia over the last decade, including its current voter registration project. The delegates discussed the need for the country to do more to combat corruption with Senior Program Specialist Jeffrey Carlson, who oversees IFES’ political finance program. IFES staff also discussed public relations strategies, techniques for improving voter rolls and training methods for election staff.

Senior Director for Communications and Research Dorin Tudoran pointed out that even mature democracies face challenges during elections and that it is impossible to “import democracy” to a country. Instead, he said the impetus from change must come from within the country. Karen Buerkle, senior researcher with IFES’ Applied Research Center discussed polling techniques.

The delegates are in the United States for three weeks to study the role of public relations and the media in the American political process. They are meeting with politicians, media organizations, public relations firms and democracy-promotion organizations as part of a program funded by the United States Agency for International Development.