Havel Launches Forum 2000 Conference and Opens the Debate on the Rule of Law and Democracy

 

When is the international community entitled to interfere with the functioning of a sovereign country? How does a democratic society ensure the balance between individual freedom and the rule of law? How does it tackle organized crime and corruption? The 15^th annual Forum 2000 Conference will seek answers to these and other topical questions by hosting discussions of the most prominent international personalities from the fields of politics, science, and religion. The opening remarks were given tonight at the Prague Crossroads centre by the founder of the conference and former Czech President Václav Havel, and the Chairman of The Nippon Foundation Yohei Sasakawa.

 

Mr. Sasakawa remarked that the global society is undergoing remarkable changes, however, the social development of some countries continues to lag behind. “This year, our underlying goal is to seek ways in which the people who are now engaged in these noble struggles for democracy can successfully create societies that will be based on democracy and the rule of law.”

 

Mr. Stiglitz offered the audience a follow-up on the central notion of the Forum 2000 Conference. “We often use the term ‘rule of law‘ too loosely. The question we all should ask is: what kind of rule of law do we have in mind? One that preserves inequalities or serves as a mechanism of oppression? Law should serve as a mechanism of justice,“ said Mr. Stiglitz in his remark regarding the current relation between legal regulation and democracy. “What we have seen in the United States, for instance, was a strong regulation of democracy and a strong deregulation of banks.” In closing his speech, Mr. Stiglitz named three basic prerequisitions for a just rule of law – transparency, democratic accountability, and basic human and civil rights.

 

During the event the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences Jiří Drahoš awarded Mr. Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize Laureate in Economic Sciences, the Medal of Honor of the Czech economist and politician Karel Engliš for his lifetime achievement in economic sciences. The topic of the conference, which will last until Wednesday 12, was introduced by Mr. Jan Švejnar, the Chairman of CERGE-EI and former Czech presidential candidate.

 

The Forum 2000 Conference will host more than 130 scientists, politicians and religious leaders including the renowned Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto, the founder of Transparency International Mr. Peter Eigen, Georgian President Mr. Mikhail Saakashvili, or Kosovar President Ms. Atifete Jahjaga. The complete list of participants can be found here. The topics will cover globalization, state sovereignty and its limitations, the rule of law and its impact on the environment, religion, and business.