Located at the center of historical conflicts in the Balkans, modern-day Macedonia has overcome many challenges since Yugoslavia disintegrated and the country of three million peacefully gained independence in 1991. Escalating tension between majority Macedonians and a sizable Albanian community led to open conflict in 2001 that was staunched by a peace agreement, known as the Ohrid Accords, which has provided stronger constitutional and political protections for ethnic Albanians.

The fragility of freedom and how to preserve it was one of the themes explored at the 10th anniversary meeting of the Community of Democracies (CoD), a global coalition of democratic countries, meeting July 2-4 in Krakow, Poland.

"Democracy," said U.S. Rep. David Price, "cannot be imposed from without but must grow from within, organically and at its own pace."

Price was speaking at a unique week-long event in Warsaw, Poland, last month that exemplified that theme. Representatives of maturing and developing democracies gathered for two purposes. The first was to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Frost-Solomon Task Force, which in 1990-96 provided assistance from the U.S. Congress to new parliaments in Central and Eastern Europe that were emerging from communist rule. The second was a Parliamentary Staff Institute to use the lessons learned through that experience to assist representatives of 11 parliaments from different parts of the world that are making their own transitions to democratic governance.

After years of working in Serbia on political party development and elections, NDI has shifted its focus to aiding those who hold elective office, a reflection of the country's increased political stability. Rebecca Shoot, a resident program officer in NDI's Belgrade office, discusses the Institute's work with parliamentarians in Serbia's National Assembly.

What led NDI to focus on strengthening the Serbian parliament?

The Western Balkans — Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia — face ethnic divisions and other politic