The "Athens Forum 2014: Democracy under Pressure" is a series of events that will take place in Athens on September 15, and coincides with the UN International Day of Democracy. The program is co-hosted by the International New York Times and the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, and held in cooperation with the United Nations Democracy Fund as its principal global event. This year’s event follows the successful "Athens Forum 2013," the first of its kind, as part of the Global Conversation series of high level debates of the International New York Times.

This year’s programme includes a conference that will take place at the Acropolis Museum, and the “Global Conversation” will once again take place in the highly symbolic "Stoa of Attalos" in the Agora at the foot of the Acropolis of Athens - the birthplace of Athenian democracy. Speakers will include Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, as well as other officials from Greece and other countries. Topics to be discussed are varied, and include the aggression in Ukraine, elections in India, the European Union and Afghanistan, as well as how the economic crisis and new media affect democracy. For information, please visit the programme and speakers.