Prior to the launching of the Kokkalis Executive Program, the Kokkalis Leadership Network for New Europe, in an effort to support the continuing education of high-ranking public officials from the region, provided Kokkalis-sponsored participation at executive programs organized by the Kennedy School.

Ljubica Acevska was the first participant in a Kokkalis-sponsored executive program. Ambassador Acevska has been the first ambassador of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to the United States and has been a leader in her country's foreign and security affairs. In recognition of her valuable contribution to FYROM's peaceful transition to independence, democracy and a free market economy, the Kokkalis Program decided to sponsor her participation in the Kennedy School's "Leadership for the 21st Century: Chaos, Conflict and Courage," held in March 8-13, 1998. Using classroom techniques, large and small group exercises and personal reflection, this program provides practical application of leadership principles for participants in government, nonprofits and business, seeking to improve their leadership capacity.

I would like to express my gratitude to the Kokkalis Program on Southeastern and East-Central Europe for sponsoring my participation in the seminar 'Leadership for the 21st Century,' at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, from the 8th through the 13th of March 1998. The Program was exceptionally worthwhile and provided a wide range of new insights about leadership. Mr. Kokkalis is to be commended for developing this program, for it gives people from Southeastern Europe an opportunity to have better relations in the future via education and discussions. Stability is in the interest of everyone, not only for the people living in the countries of the Balkans, but for those in the United States as well.

excerpted from a letter by Ljubica Acevska, Kokkalis Fellow and Ambassador of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the United States