“The Russian war in Ukraine has fundamentally transformed Europe’s security environment and the global balance of power,” stated the Czech President Petr Pavel, talking at the 29th Forum 2000 Conference in Prague.
“This is why this year’s Forum 2000 conference is seeking ways to strengthen democracy and confront authoritarianism,” highlighted President Pavel. This year’s Forum, held on October 12-14, under the theme “Facing the Odds: Democratic Resilience in Action,” gathered personalities from the Czech Republic and EU member states.
The Czech President emphasised the disinformation aspect of Russia’s aggressiveness, noting that Russia is not waging war solely with physical weapons. “It spreads disinformation, sows distrust, and undermines our society from within. This scenario is already well-known across Europe, and the Czech Republic is no exception. Pro-Russian disinformation websites today produce more content than traditional media”.
President Pavel underlined that the Czech Republic and Europe must continue to support Ukraine on the battlefield, but at the same time become more resilient on their own front, “protecting facts, free media, and the democratic culture that forms the foundation of our freedom”.
The Forum 2000 Foundation was founded in 1996 by Czech President Václav Havel, Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel. Its primary goal is to identify critical issues facing civilisation and explore strategies to mitigate conflicts rooted in religion, culture, or ethnicity.
The foundation serves as a platform for open dialogue on these topics and promotes democracy in non-democratic regions, supports civil society, upholds human rights, and encourages tolerance within emerging democracies.
