Regardless of the future composition of the Czech government, it is crucial to preserve and strengthen the foundations of democratic civilian society," stressed Czech president Petr Pavel at the global Conference of the Forum 2000 in Prague (12 – 14.10.). In his opinion, strong civilian structures are the most effective weapon in the fight against misinformation that Russia is spreading.
– We request strong public media and a healthy media landscape, which ensures pluralism of perspectives without sowing hatred and deepening uncertainty," he pointed out.
Regardless of the future composition of the Czech government, it is crucial to preserve and strengthen the foundations of democratic civilian society," stressed Czech president Petr Pavel at the global Conference of the Forum 2000 in Prague. In his opinion, strong civilian structures are the most effective weapon in the fight against misinformation that Russia is spreading.
– We request strong public media and a healthy media landscape, which ensures pluralism of perspectives without sowing hatred and deepening uncertainty," he pointed out.
Czech president Petr Pavel estimated that the ANO movement, which had won parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic a week ago, did not seem pro-Russian. However, he pointed out that there was a hazard that this group would be forced to form a coalition with parties representing a milder position towards Russia or China. Pavel made his remarks during a panel devoted to relations with Russia.
“Russia is present 1 of the main threats to security, freedom and democracy in Europe,” Pavel said. As he added, Moscow seeks to weaken and break down the transatlantic community. “This war has many battlefields – from cyber attacks to intimidation of critics Vladimir Putin,” he said. In his opinion, we are dealing with an information war that manipulates societies by playing with fear and frustration.
– Disinformation will not vanish alone. They make a parallel reality – a kind of "king hole", which is easy to fall into, but very hard to get out of – warned the President. He pointed out that citizens have the right to reliable information and authentic voices in the public debate.
In this context, Pavel welcomed the establishment of a regional Reporters Office without Borders in Prague. Its authoritative beginning is scheduled for Tuesday, as part of the 2000 Forum. "This office will strengthen the protection of independent journalism, support at hazard journalists and aid build opposition to misinformation across Central and east Europe," he stressed.
President Petr Pavel added that free media are essential but insufficient in the face of modern threats. Independent universities and active NGOs form, in his opinion, the essential democratic ecosystem, which is the best defence against interior divisions and hybrid threats. "This ecosystem is our best protection against disinformation and destabilization," he said.
Pavel argued that Russia had drawn conclusions from the Cold War, and that present it is not putting military strength on it, but on undermining assurance in the institutions and spreading the belief that democracy is simply a strategy that fails. – erstwhile they are incapable to defeat the opponent, they effort to weaken it. They spread uncertainty, undermine the authority of the institutions and effort to convince people that democracy does not work," he said. According to him, Moscow is effective due to the fact that it uses real social problems skillfully. "They work on emotions and fear, not on facts," he stressed. According to the Czech President, the democratic state has inactive not found adequate effective responses to Russian hybrid actions.
Petr Pavel performs all year at Forum 2000. In his earlier speeches he spoke, among others, about the fragileness of democracy, and last year he focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In this year's edition of the Forum 2000, the erstwhile president of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, besides took the floor. In her speech, she described Georgia as a "scientific field" for Russian hybrid activities. She recalled that she regularly visited the Czech Republic – last April, erstwhile she attended a gathering of the Czech Senate. She besides warned against the threat from the Kremlin.
Source: ČTK
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