GLOBAL PANEL - CONFERENCE OF FOREIGN MINISTERS - BACKGROUND
"10 Years After, Key Players Reflect on the Events of 1991"

For a large part of the 20th century, much of Europe was unable to exercise the rights taken for granted in the West, including voting rights, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of expression. On the eve of the last decade of the last century, these rights were restored. What role did Gorbachev's glasnost and perestroika play in this unprecedented reversal? How did Western governments perceive the redistribution of power? Who was in control of day-to-day developments? How were channels of communication established during these fast-moving events? What were the expectations, have they been fulfilled? The Conference was intended to yield practical benefits for current and future policy- and decision-makers when facing fundamental shifts in world politics and global markets.

The Conference of Foreign Ministers was also one of the rare occasions when policy-makers and key decision-makers discussed issues without the constraints of office. Ten years after the 1991 Moscow Putsch, memories of the events which shaped history are relatively fresh, and the relationships formed at the time still active. At the same time, ten years have provided an opportunity to reflect on the events of 1991 and to observe developments.

During the past decade there has been a concerted effort to create functional markets, political stability and a strong civil society. The Prague Conference provided opportunities for exchange and cooperation, enabling leaders from different spheres to create new links between sectors, solidify existing relationships and strengthen common goals.