President Pavel at Forum 2000: “Russia wants to destroy Europe”
Czech President Petr Pavel delivered a speech at the Forum 2000 international conference in Prague on Monday. He addressed the security threat posed by Russia, which, according to Pavel, aims to dismantle Europe step by step. “Russia poses a fundamental threat to European freedom, security, and democracy,” the president stated.
This year's 29th edition of the conference focuses on Ukraine, technology, and strengthening democratic ties at a time when, according to the organizers, democracy faces unprecedented internal contradictions, growing authoritarianism, the spread of disinformation, and the rapid pace of technological change.
In an opening panel at the conference, President Pavel responded to ANO’s election results, saying that ANO does not appear to be pro-Russian but that he worries about its coalition partners: “There is a risk that [ANO] will have to form a coalition with parties that take a more subtle approach to Russia or China,” he said.
Russia today represents a fundamental threat to European security, freedom, and democracy, Pavel continued. According to him, Moscow aims to weaken and divide the transatlantic community. “This war has many battlefields, from cyberattacks to intimidating those who speak out against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” he said. He added that it is also a war waged through the deception of societies, using fear and frustration.
Disinformation, he said, will not disappear on its own and creates a parallel reality. “It’s like a rabbit hole that is easy to fall into but much harder to climb out of,” he noted. In this context, Pavel welcomed the establishment of a regional office of Reporters Without Borders in Prague, which will be officially launched at Forum 2000 on Tuesday. “It will strengthen the defense of independent journalism, support endangered journalists, and help build resilience against disinformation across Central and Eastern Europe,” the president said.
However, according to him, free media are not enough; independent universities and a civil structure of non-governmental organizations are also needed. “This ecosystem is our best defense against internal division and hybrid threats,” he added.
Pavel speaks at the Forum 2000 conference every year. On previous occasions, his speeches have focused on topics such as the fragility of democracy. Last year, his main topic was Russian aggression in Ukraine.
In addition to the Czech president, former Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also spoke at the event on Monday, describing Georgia as Russia's testing ground for hybrid warfare. Zurabishvili has visited Czechia repeatedly, most recently attending a Senate meeting here in April. In her speech then, as on Monday, she warned against Russian influence.
Forum 2000 was founded in 1997 by then-Czech President Václav Havel, writer Elie Wiesel, and Japanese philanthropist Jóhei Sasakawa. The founders' intention was to provide a space for personalities from various fields to analyze the challenges of the new millennium.
