FREEDOM HOUSE: CLOSE TIES OF POLITICAL AND BUSINESS STRUCTURES IN ARMENIA HINDER ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANSPARENT AND DEMOCRATIC STATE INSTITUTIONS
ArmInfo
2008-06-24 12:45:00
The close ties of political and business structures in Armenia hinder
establishment of transparent and democratic state institutions, says
the Freedom House Report ‘Nations in Transit 2008> published Tuesday,
RFE/RL reports.
Election rigging raises public distrust in the authorities and
political and civil activity, the report says. The authors of the
report believe that the unsettled Nagorny Karabakh conflict scares away
foreign investors, hinders diversification of trade and involvement
in regional projects. The report outlines a positive factor i.e. the
comparatively positive establishment of macroeconomy and 13% GDP
growth in 2007. Poverty is reduced, however, many experts say the
population has not yet tasted the fruits of macroeconomic successes.
Freedom House experts evaluate every country by a 7-point scale on
the basis of 9 key criteria. The election process in Armenia was
evaluated at 5.50 points. In 2006 this indicator made up 5.75 points.
The developments of the year 2008 will be reflected in the report
for 2009.
The source reports that a number of indicators were left the same
as a year ago: Civil structure – 3.50; Independent press – 5/75;
State Democratic Government – 5.25; Local Democratic Government – 5.50.
Justice System and Independence was down from 5 to 5.25. Corruption
and Democracy were left unchanged – 5.75 and 5.21 respectively.