Warsaw's conference-on-democracy guest list criticized by human-rights group

The "Towards a Community of Democracy" conference has attracted 100 diplomats from all over the world to come to Warsaw to discuss the importance of democracy. Invited guests represent the countries that in the view of the Polish government have achieved a high level of democracy and respect for human rights. Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek said democracy is the main subject of the talks because democracy and political freedom are fundamental to people's freedom. However, the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch group has protested at the inclusion of some countries who it says are known to operate one-party states and dictatorships. A video address by Nobel laureate Auung San Suu Kyi urged participants to act and not just talk. (Rzeczpospolita, page A6, Reuters) T.J.