Moscow prevents Andrei Babitsky from going to Prague's Forum 2000Moscow prevents Babitsky from going to Prague's Forum 2000
PRAGUE, Oct 16 (CTK) - The Russian authorities have prevented Andrei Babitsky, a Russian reporter of the Radio Free Europe who is disfavoured by the Kremlin due to his coverage of Chechen events, from going to Prague to attend the 4th Forum 2000, Czech President Vaclav Havel said today.
In his opening speech at the first working day of Forum 2000, an international meeting of world thinkers, Havel said that every year so far the Forum had seen several of the invited guests barred by his/her home country from going to Prague. Babitsky's name newly appeared on the list after the Russian government seized his passport, Havel said.
At the beginning of his speech Havel paid tribute to victims of the latest conflict in the Middle East.
He also said it was necessary to strive for global responsibility and get rid of the "pride of reason". Humbleness is one of the conditions for people to feel responsible for the world, an ethical minimum on which various cultures and civilisations can agree, he said.
"One but not the only precondition for [people's] responsibility is their humble relation to the world, the miracle of being and our ability to know that we know nothing," Havel said.
His speech opened today's dicussion panel focusing on the role of and problems faced by the education process and education level in the globalised world.
Czech News Agency (CTK) |
