Forum 2000 opens in Prague

The 16th annual conference Forum 2000 opens in Prague on Sunday evening, the first to be held without its founder, the late ex-president Václav Havel. In accordance with his wishes the tree-day event will examine the relationship between the media and democracy. The conference will also address key aspects of Václav Havel´s legacy and discuss ways to build upon it. More than a hundred policymakers, intellectuals and journalists will participate in open discussions dealing with these issues. Among the participants this year are the Czech-born former U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright, the head of Tibet's exiled government Lobsang Sangay, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Suzana Grubješić and former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans.