March 13 through 18 the delegation of the Forum of Democratic Forces of Kazakhstan visited USA on the invitation of several public organizations. President of Independent Electronic Mass Media Association Rozlana Taukina, leader of Kazakh Labor Movement Madel Ismailov, other well-known politicians, publicists, and representatives of the Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan Sergei Duvanov and Nurbulat Masanov took part in the dialog with the Americans.

The aim of the visit was to acquaint American politicians and public figures with the political situation in Kazakhstan and the idea of the nation-wide dialog.

The delegation met with the following influential Congressmen:

• The Hon. Dan Burton, IN, Chairman of the Committee on Government Reform;

• The Hon. Doug Bereuter, NE, Chairman of Subcommittee on Asia, Committee on International Relations;
• The Hon. Porter J. Goss, FL, Chairman of the Committee on Intelligence;
• The Hon. Steve Chabot, OH, Committees on International Relations and the Judiciary;
• The Hon. Tom Lantos, CA, Committees on International Relations and Government Reform;
• The Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, FL, Committees on Government Reform and International Relations;
• The Hon. Stephen Horn, CA, Committee on Government Reform;
• The Hon. Roger F. Wicker, MS, Committee on Appropriations;
• The Hon. Janice D. Schakowsky, IL, Committee on Banking and Financial Services.

The Congressmen supported the idea of conducting a nation-wide dialog in Kazakhstan and offered their assistance in promoting democratization of the political system in the country, human rights and free access to mass media sources.

When the visit was over Congressmen Steve Chabot (OH) wrote a letter to the Secretary of State Madlen Albright. He called on to take with all seriousness the unfolding political situation in Kazakhstan, backed the idea of the national dialog and suggested that the Department of State should stand for observing the freedom of speech in Kazakhstan.

In addition, members of Kazakh opposition met with top officials of the Department of State, staff members of the National Democracy Institute, representatives of AFL/CIO, and other labor movements and organizations.

The delegation took part in the Radio Liberty round table and spoke at the Radio Free Europe briefing.

Two last days of the visit the delegation spent in New York, where its members met with representatives of Human Rights Watch, Committee to Protect Journalist, International League for Human Rights and labor organizations.