NEW YORK, Dec 23 (Hina) - According to Freedom House's annual report on the state of affairs in human rights and democracy in 2000, Croatia has been for the first time listed in a group of totally free countries. A few previous annual
reports expressed criticism about certain issues and put Croatia among partly free states. The report on freedoms in 2000 was released in New York on Friday. It cited 86 countries as totally free. Besides Croatia, new entries in this list were Mexico, Ghana and Surinam. The improvement in these countries has been explained as the consequence of democratic elections and the conduct of new authorities. Freedom House President Adrian Karatnycky has assessed that now 40.7 percent of the global population is enjoying political and human rights. This has been the highest degree so far. Karatnycky has given credit primarily to the population of an increasing number of co
NEW YORK, Dec 23 (Hina) - According to Freedom House's annual report
on the state of affairs in human rights and democracy in 2000,
Croatia has been for the first time listed in a group of totally free
countries.
A few previous annual reports expressed criticism about certain
issues and put Croatia among partly free states.
The report on freedoms in 2000 was released in New York on Friday.
It cited 86 countries as totally free. Besides Croatia, new entries
in this list were Mexico, Ghana and Surinam.
The improvement in these countries has been explained as the
consequence of democratic elections and the conduct of new
authorities.
Freedom House President Adrian Karatnycky has assessed that now
40.7 percent of the global population is enjoying political and
human rights. This has been the highest degree so far.
Karatnycky has given credit primarily to the population of an
increasing number of countries in the world but he has also
commended the U.S. Administration's policy.
According to him, US President Ronald Reagan was first to show the
resoluteness to promote democracy. He was followed by George Bush,
whereas Bill Clinton developed those endeavours fully.
Freedom House has been drawing up reports since 1995. This year's
report covers 192 countries.
Freedom House expects that the election of new Mexican President
Vincent Fox, the election victory of Vojislav Kostunica in
Yugoslavia, and trials for corruption in Philippines, Indonesia
and Taiwan as well as the resignation of Peruvian President Albert
Fujimori may further contribute to the promotion of liberties.
On the other hand, problems could be caused by the resumption of
violence in the Near East, restriction of freedoms in Russia and
Ukraine, the rule of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, the discontinuation
of reforms in Iran and hotbeds in Africa.
(hina) ms