Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 6: The President of the exile Tibetan government, officially known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Penpa Tsering, departed Dharamshala on Monday for an official tour of Europe that will take him to Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Germany, including participation in the upcoming 30th Forum 2000 Conference in Prague.
The Tibetan political leader is scheduled to spend the first two days of his tour in Delhi before departing for Zurich, Switzerland, on October 8. He will undertake a series of official engagements in Zurich on October 9 and 10.
On October 11, the CTA President will travel to Prague, Czech Republic, where he is scheduled to attend the 30th Forum 2000 Conference on October 12 and 13. He will then travel to Germany on October 15 for further official engagements, which are scheduled to continue until October 17, before returning to India.
The Forum 2000 Conference is an annual international gathering held in Prague that brings together political leaders, diplomats, human rights advocates, academics, journalists, civil society representatives and other prominent figures to discuss major global challenges, including democracy, human rights, freedom and the international rules-based order.
The 30th edition of the conference comes at a significant milestone for the organisation, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Forum 2000 Foundation and the 90th birth anniversary of its founder, former Czech President Václav Havel. Held under the theme “Reimagining the Power of the Powerless,” this year’s conference draws on Havel’s influential 1978 essay The Power of the Powerless and will explore how individuals and societies can respond to authoritarian pressures while strengthening democracy, human rights and civic participation.
Forum 2000 traces its origins to 1996, when Havel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel and Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa established the Forum 2000 Foundation. The first conference was held in Prague in September 1997 under the theme “Concerns and Hopes on the Threshold of the New Millennium.” It brought together political leaders, religious figures, scholars, writers and artists to discuss the challenges facing humanity and possible paths towards a better future.
Over the years, Forum 2000 has developed into a prominent platform for international dialogue on democracy, human rights, civil society, religious and ethnic tolerance, the rule of law and other global issues. According to the Forum 2000 Foundation, its mission is rooted in Havel’s legacy of promoting democratic values, respect for human rights and civil society while encouraging religious, cultural and ethnic tolerance.
The conference also has a longstanding connection with the Tibetan issue. The exile Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has participated in Forum 2000 events on several occasions and is listed among the distinguished participants of the conference series.
The 30th Forum 2000 Conference will be held at the Prague Congress Centre from October 11 to 13, with the main conference programme taking place on October 12 and 13. The organisers have said the programme will bring together international participants for discussions on democracy, political representation, technology and other challenges confronting democratic societies.
