Religion, democracy and regional security discussed on the final day of the Forum 2000 Conference

Tuesday 13th October

The second day of the Conference was dedicated to the topics of religion and its relation to democracy, interfaith dialogue and the political and security situation as seen from different corners of the world.  Special attention was given to the challenges facing Russia and particularly the Middle East, highlighted by the contribution of Israeli Deputy Prime minister Ehud Barak. Václav Havel officially closed the 13th Forum 2000 Conference with a short speech.

Speakers representing the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths discussed the relationship between religion and democracy in the first panel of the day. All of the panelists agreed upon the essential role played by religion in a democratic society. Michael Novak, American theologian and writer, quoted Alexander de Tocqueville in saying that religion is giving us “an understanding of human rights.” William Cook, an American professor from the State University of New York, warned of the dangers of behaviour guided by immediate self interests. Similarly, Said Al-Touraihi, director of Iraqi Kufa Academy for Oriental Studies, said that “without religious and democratic values we cannot create a moral society.”

The speakers agreed upon an equally positive role for religion in the afternoon debate “Fields, Forms, Difficulties and Risks of the Interfaith Dialogue in Different Parts of the World.”  Religion can be an effective means of facilitating dialogue in conflict situations. David Rosen reflected on his experience of starting an interfaith forum in South Africa, finding that the way to “bring the community together across racial divide, was through religion and direct human encounters.” The panelists concluded with the statement that “if we do not want religion to be the problem, then religion must be a part of the solution”.

Reverting from religion back to democracy, discussions covering the region of Latin America pointed to the issue of using constitutional reform as a means to further concentrate power into the hands of leaders, stressing the role of “personal rule” rather than the rule of law.  Mexican professor Luza Arable Gonzales Uresti stressed how the democratic legacy in the region has been puctured by authoritarianism.  The panel on “Security and the Arms Race in Latin America” then analyzed the Latin American arms race in the context of the volume of arms traded worldwide.

The Middle East was covered by two debates. In the discussion on “Gaza and Israel, the Human Rights View,” Marek Čejka from Masaryk University, Czech Republic, outlined the evolution the Israeli strategy towards Gaza. He stated that it has been “inconsistent and disproportional” all along.  Izzeldin Abuelaish, a physician and peace activist from the Gaza strip, confirmed this point and asserted that we must “dig” deeper to reach a solution, as he believes that “the Gaza Strip is something of an anomaly.”  Dasa van der Horst, director of Amnesty International, Czech Republic, added that the “people of the Gaza Strip should demand justice and accountability.” The second panel debate “Peace Process and the Importance of the Water Issue” offered insight into the issue of water distribution in Israel and more specifically, the West Bank. The lack of water in this area may potentially lead to severe crisis in the future.

Later in the morning Ehud Barak, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, delivered a speech about the role of democracy in the world, particularly in connection to current international security concerns, and the need for world leaders to unite in their efforts to face these threats in order to promote freedom and democracy.  He expressed optimism with regard to the Middle East Peace Process, saying that the time to act is now, because “the common interest is there, the will of the people is there, and the ripeness of leadership is there” He stressed the need for concrete decisions and determination, even though this may appear difficult at present.

At another regionally oriented panel analyzing the role of “Russia in global politics,” all speakers concurred that the role of Russia is an important factor in the European and international scenes, and that this reality has to be addressed while keeping in mind certain boundaries.  Alexandr Vondra, Czech senator and former Minister for European Affairs, therefore posed the question as to what “smart” policy should be adopted by the European Union with regard to Russia.  Russian opposition politician and economist Grigory Yavlinsky put forth that democracy in Russia exists only as its imitation, however, as they shall be neighbors for years to come, the EU and Russia should maintain friendly relations. French philosopher André Glucksmann brought up the idea that there exists at least two Russias; one of the Kremlin and Putin, the other belonging to Anna Politkovska or the Voice of Beslan, both who’s opinions should be considered.

In the panel highlighting the importance of “Eternal Vigilance” in opposing oppressive regimes, panelists described the deficient state of freedom in their countries, and emphasized the necessity of determination and resistance in the “vigilance” effort. Sabe Amthor Soe from the Burma Center in Prague commented on the solidarity of democratic countries such as the Czech Republic, though she does not see a lot of space for improvement of the actual situation on the ground, adding that “the regimes don’t care what the international community thinks.”

Vaclav Havel, the former Czech President and co-founder of the Forum 2000, officially ended the conference's 13th edition by thanking all of the participants, especially those from countries like Burma, Belarus, Cuba and Zimbabwe, as well as other free-minded personalities from all over the world.  He also gave a preview of next year’s conference topic, which will be “human settlement.”  With villages disappearing and an increased migration to urban areas, he will invite experts such as architects and urban planners to discuss future problems that may arise.