“AT Ukraine the battle is between Democracy and Tyranny.” With this message from the Ukrainian President, Vladimir Zelenskymaterials of the first day of the 10th international conference “Athens Forum for Democracy“organized Foundation for Democracy and Culture in cooperation with them New York Times and title”Ten years of democracy and now what?“.

From the big giant screen installed in his atrium Zappiowhere the three-day conference is being held, the Ukrainian president referred to the need for the unity of societies to defend democracy, saying that “we must act together so that no one can become a total threat to us.”

“Democracy lives among the citizens,” he said, adding that his country had been able to build as much unity as possible since the invasion.

In conclusion, he expressed gratitude for the award of the city of Athens, which he received on behalf of the citizens of Ukraine. The award was presented to the Ambassador of Ukraine in Greece by the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis.

Ukrainian President #Zelensky sends your message to @ForumAthens #APD #atheniandemocraticforum #atheniandemocracy pic.twitter.com/q8Vc20B7DD

— Lukas Velidakis (@UrbanRat7) September 28, 2022

Sakellaropoulou: defend democracy

The President of the Republic preceded the podium, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, which emphasized that we live in times of crisis and change. “A new normality is emerging and taking hold, overturning the optimism that prevailed at the turn of the century. Hope for universal progress and prosperity in the context of globalization has receded due to structural contradictions and unforeseen events,” he stressed.

“In a world of diversity and speed, the ideal of an open society is tested by the intensity and harshness of reality. The global economic crisis has exacerbated inequalities and highlighted the need to effectively protect the most vulnerable social groups. The pandemic has become a test of our physical and mental capabilities, an unprecedented restriction of our freedoms. The issue of refugees and immigration confronts us with our humanitarian duty and the need to develop a common European policy of solidarity and responsibility. Extreme natural disasters and disasters show that our procrastination in the face of climate change will be fatal to the entire planet. The energy crisis today threatens the most elementary material conditions of our lives,” he said.