Source: Tanjug

PRAGUE -- The latest Nations in Transit report by Freedom House notes that Serbia saw positive progress in democracy but its ranking remained unchanged from 2011.

"At the close of 2011, Serbias progress was also viewed positively by the EU, which linked the countrys candidacy status to cooperation in the pursuit of accused war criminals, particularly the last remaining fugitives sought by the international tribunal, Ratko Mladi and Goran Hadi, both of whom were arrested during the year," says the report.

However, neither Serbia nor Montenegro registered any score changes in Nations in Transit for 2011.

Most countries in the Balkans fall into the group of semi-consolidated democracies. Croatia leads the way with a 3.61 rating, followed by Serbia (3.64), Montenegro (3.82) and Macedonia (3.89). Bulgaria and Romania are also in this group.

Bosnia-Herzegovina is ranked among transitional governments or hybrid regimes with a 4.36 rating. Also in this group are Albania, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

Kosovo is in the group of semi-consolidated authoritarian regimes, along with Armenia, Radio Free Europe reported.

The best rated countries, i.e. consolidated democracies, are Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia and Hungary.

The bottom of the list is populated by the consolidated authoritarian regimes of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Freedom House is an independent organization which supports democratic change, monitors freedom, and advocates for democracy and human rights around the world.

Originally posted here:

Freedom House: Serbia made significant progress