Bakala Family Supports Aspen Ministers Forum in Versailles

This year’s annual Aspen Ministers Forum (AMF), supported by the Fondation Zdenek et Michaela Bakala, took place in Versailles. The 22nd session’s theme focused on the global rise of nationalism, emphasizing the difference between its reality and its perception. More than twenty former foreign ministers, including Madeleine Albright, and experts from various organizations and institutions attended the meeting.

The multidisciplinary program of the 2-day forum covered a diverse range of topics. On deck were discussions surrounding historical perspectives, the role of politicians and journalists, and the current refugee and migration crisis. Former statesmen and experts primarily devoted themselves to discussing these issues’ practical aspects and seeking possible solutions. Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister of Israel and keynote speaker at the meeting, spoke about the “State of the World Order and Path Ahead.” In this speech, he addressed, among other things, how the benefits of the liberal world order can be recast successfully in the eyes of its detractors, and how to use social media and other modern technologies as a force multiplier to achieve this goal. During the social activities, participants had a chance to debate informally and in smaller circles.

After the meetings concluded in Versailles, the former foreign ministers decided to publish a letter to President Donald Trump in anticipation of the upcoming NATO Summit in Brussels to express their concerns regarding the deteriorating relationship between the United States and its Western allies. The text of the letter is available here.

The AMF is an initiative of former foreign ministers from around the world and across the political spectrum. More information about AMF is available on its website.

Source of the photo: Twitter @aspen_romania.