TRANSPARENCY INT'L PRESENTS RESULTS OF CORRUPTION SURVEY

ZAGREB, July 5 (Hina) - Croatian citizens share the optimistic conviction that corruption could be reduced with those in developed Western countries, and the conviction that corruption significantly affects the buisness environment with citizens of undeveloped countries. #L# These assessments correspond to the results of the Global Corruption Barometre, the latest Transparency International survey done in 47 countries, including Croatia, under the name "Voice of the People". Five hundred Croats answered six questions about corruption. According to 22.5 percent, corruption should first be stamped out in the health sector, 21.6 percent gave priority to the justice system, 18.6 percent to political parties, 12.9 percent to public administration issuing a variety of permits, 4.9 percent to the police, and 0.4 percent to corruption in customs. Unlike people in Western countries, Croatia's citizens are of the opinion corruption does not significantly affect their private lives. But as many as 69.5 percent think corruption strongly impacts the business environment, a feeling typical among citizens of undeveloped countries but not in the West. Like citizens in Western countries, Croats are optimistic regarding expectations that corruption can be reduced over the next three years -- 34.6 percent expect a minor while 9.2 percent expect a significant reduction. In virtually every surveyed country, politics has been singled out as the most fertile ground for corruption, with as many as 66 percent of Croats of the opinion that corruotion very strongly affects political life. Citizens in 33 countries see political parties as the biggest source of corruption, especially in Argentina and Japan. In Croatia, citizens see the judiciary as the most corrupt system, followed by the health sector and political parties. (hina) ha sb