Resolution
of the International scientific and public conference
"the Relevance of Scientific, Artistic and Philosophical Heritage
of the Roerich Family in the Modern World"

September, 15-16th, 2016

In Vienna (Austria), at the Russian centre of science and culture on September,15-16th, 2016 there was held the 4th European international scientific and public conference "the Relevance of Scientific, Artistic and Philosophical Heritage of the Roerich Family in the Modern World", dedicated to the memory of Lyudmila V. Shaposhnikova, the first Vice-President of the International Centre of the Roerichs, the founder of the Public Museum by name of N. K.Roerich and its General Director, academician, honoured art worker of the Russian Federation.

The aim of the conference is to oppose the destruction of the Public Museum by name of N.K.Roerich of the International Centre of the Roerichs, to develop effective ways and forms of protection of the name and heritage of the Roerichs, to determine the means of promotion of the principles of the Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace ideas, other ideas of the Roerichs heritage.

The conference is organized by the Austrian Roerich Society and the National Committee of the Roerich Pact; co-organizers: the Estonian Roerich society, the German Roerich Society, the Latvian Department of the International Centre of the Roerichs.

The international conference was held under the patronage of the International Centre of the Roerichs (Moscow) with the support of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Vienna and the International Council of the Roerich organizations named after S. N. Roerich.

Greetings to the participants of the conference were addressed by: the President of the Austrian Roerich Society and National Committee of the Roerich Pact - Leylya Schtrobl, the Director of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Vienna, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Austria - Yury Zaitsev, the first Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Austria - Maria Lobanova, the President of the International Committee for the Preservation of the Roerich heritage, Deputy Director General of the Museum named after N.K. Roerich on scientific work, Head of the United Scientific Centre of Cosmic Thinking Problems of the ICR, professor, doctor of philosophical sciences - Victor Frolov (Moscow, Russia); the military expert of the Armed Forces of Austria on the protection of cultural values Dr. Dr. Christian I. Kopfich.

The conference received greetings from public organisations, including: the International Centre of the Roerichs (Moscow, Russia); the International Council of the Roerich Organizations named after S. N. Roerich (Moscow, Russia); Finnish society named after N.K.Roerich (Helsinki, Finland), Tashkent Roerichs Society (Uzbekistan).

The conference was attended by more than 70 delegates from 12 countries of the European Union, Russia, the Baltic region, the CIS countries, Afghanistan, Colombia.

At the conference, presentations were made by: L. Schtrobl – President of the Austrian Roerich Society and National Committee of the Roerich Pact, a Board member of the Austrian National Committee of the Blue Shield (Vienna, Austria), V. Frolov - professor, doctor of philosophical sciences, S. Zwing – the legal adviser of the Austrian Roerich Society – National Committee of the Roerich Pact (Vienna, Austria); S. Ibrahimi - free journalist (Afghanistan), Migunov A. – candidate of historical sciences, Vice-President of the International public movement "Eastern dimension" (Russia); Frederick T. Schipper – doctor of archeology, General Secretary of the Austrian National Committee of the Blue Shield (Austria), A. R. Flores Dario – master of philological sciences, associate professor, National University of Colombia, Minister-Counsellor for Culture of Embassy of Colombia in Moscow (Columbia), M. Kutsarova - Chairman of the National Roerich society in Bulgaria – a member of the ICR (Sofia, Bulgaria), E. Tomsha – Chairman of the St. Petersburg Branch of the ICR (Russia), M. Ozoliņya - Chairman of the Latvian Branch of the ICR, the Knight of Humane Pedagogy, member of the International Association of Writers and Publicists, a poet (Riga, Latvia), E. Schus – PhD student, Ruhr University, a member of the German Roerich Society (Bohum, Germany), G. Schneider - the Chairman of the Board of the German Roerich Society (Remscheid, Germany), E. Kramp, member of the Estonian Roerich Society, researcher of the Department of development of the Public Museum by name of N.K.Roerich (Russia), P. Liimatta – the head of the Association of Humane Pedagogy in Finland (Helsinki, Finland), L. Abyzov - a member of the Estonian Roerich Society (Tallinn, Estonia) and others.

The conference held:

- Panel discussion on "the possibility of a revival of the Roerich Pact at the international and national levels." There were presented views of experts, diplomats and representatives of civil society working in the field of protection of cultural heritage studies. The discussion was attended by: Vladimir Frolov (Russia), A. R. Flores Dario (Columbia), M. Khoroshev – doctor of technical sciences, Advisor of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Chairman of the Russian club of the Vienna International Centre of the UN, Board member of Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in Austria, Friedrich T. Schipper (Austria), Alexander Migunov (Russia).

- Round table on which there were discussed the opportunities of social movements to improve intercultural dialogue, the embodiment of peacekeeping ideas and promotion of standards for the protection of cultural heritage at the national and international levels. There has been shown the leading role in this process of Roerich organizations cooperating with the International Centre of the Roerichs and the Public Museum by name of N.K. Roerich in Moscow and the ICR itself as the spiritual focus of the Roerich movement in Russia, the countries of the European Union, the Baltic States and the CIS.

The round table participants expressed their full support for the actions of the Public Museum by name of N. K.Roerich of the ICR, towards the fulfillment of the will of S. N. Roerich L. V. Shaposhnikova for the preservation of the public status of the Museum and of the Museum itself as a multidisciplinary scientific and cultural center, created on the initiative and direct participation of S. N. Roerich, its honorary President. During the discussion, it was noted the importance of developing a public resource for the implementation of important social projects and development of culture within civil society.

The Round table was attended by: W. Stenzel – President of the Austrian National Committee of the Blue Shield, member of the European Parliament (1996-2006.), V. Frolov – professor, doctor of philosophical sciences, President of the International Committee for Preservation of the Heritage of the Roerichs (Moscow, Russia), E. Tomsha – Chairman of the St. Petersburg Branch of the ICR (Russia), P. Liimatta – the head of the Association of Humane Pedagogy in Finland (Finland), M. Kutsarova – Chairman of the National Roerich society in Bulgaria – a member of the ICR (Sofia, Bulgaria), M. Ozoliņya – Chairman of the Latvian Branch of the ICR (Latvia), G. Schneider – Chairman of the Board of the German Roerich Society (Germany), E. Alexandrov – Chairman of Estonian Roerich Society (Estonia).

The conference participants stressed that the protection of the heritage of the Roerichs and the Public Museum named after N.K. Roerich of the ICR is the main task facing the Roerich movement, and one of the leading forms of cooperation with the International Centre of the Roerichs.

At the conference representatives of the Roerich organizations expressed a strong protest against the destructive actions of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the State Museum of the East, aimed at the destruction of the Public Museum by name of N.K. Roerich in Moscow.

The conference participants noted that the relevance of scientific, artistic and philosophical heritage of the Roerich family is growing in our time; the international meeting has expanded the range of societies that are interested in working together to implement evolutionary significant cultural-educational and peace-making ideas embodied in the Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace.

The conference participants noted the importance of the conference for the international community, for possible cooperation between the Association of national committees of the Blue Shield and the Roerich organizations in Europe on the protection of cultural values. The conference was a confirmation of the relevance of the noble ideas of N.K. Roerich for preservation of the cultural heritage of the peoples accumulated in the Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace.

Such forums should be held in future to expand the space of joint cultural and educational activities, to strengthen cooperation of the international Roerich movement. International conferences with participation of cultural public organizations from different countries will promote creativity and peacemaking ideas of the Roerichs, the realization of the leading role of Culture in bringing the peoples together.

The conference participants in their speeches expressed gratitude to all the societies who sent their letters concerning the lineage of N. K. Roerich. The conference noted the need to intensify common efforts to assess the unscrupulous publications and research of the life and work of the Roerich family, and to inform the public.

The conference also expressed its appreciation to the Austrian Roerich Society – National Committee of the Roerich Pact, the Russian Centre of science and culture in Vienna for the hospitality, to the organizing Committee and co-organizers for a well – organized work, to the representatives of the Embassy of Russian Federation in Austria for their support of the conference.

The Austrian Roerich Society – National Committee of the Roerich Pact, thanked all who assisted in the forum.

The conference decides:

1. To celebrate the outstanding achievements of the founder, creator and director of the Public Museum named after N. K. Roerich of the International Centre of the Roerichs, honored art worker of Russia, academician Lyudmila V. Shaposhnikova in the preservation, study, popularization and protection of the Roerichs ' heritage and the approval of the peacemaking ideas of the Roerichs in Russia and abroad.

2. To recognize that the Roerichs ' heritage is a significant part of Russian and world culture, a Public Museum named after N. K.Roerich of the International Centre of the Roerichs founded by S. N. Roerich and created by L. V. Shaposhnikova is the most important object of national and world cultural heritage.

3. To assume the leading role of the International Centre of the Roerichs and the Public Museum named after N. K.Roerich in cooperation in collaborating with the Roerich organizations in Russia, countries of the European Union, the Baltic States and the CIS in the pursuit of the will of S. N. Roerich and covenants of L. V. Shaposhnikova for the preservation of the public status of the Museum by name of N.K. Roerich, popularization of the Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace.

4. To Express full support for the actions of the International Centre of the Roerichs and the Public Museum named after N.K. Roerich for preservation of the public status of the Museum and of the Museum itself, in accordance with the will of S. N. Roerich, as a multidisciplinary scientific and cultural center, created on the initiative and direct participation of S. N. Roerich – its honorary President, as well as the selfless activity of L. V. Shaposhnikova.

5. Considering the main task of the Roerich organizations to be the protection of the heritage of the Roerichs and the Public Museum named after N. K.Roerich, to take concrete actions in this direction – to give reasoned answers to:
– the slanderous statements from Museum of Oriental Art and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, as well as in television and radio transmissions about the ICR and its Public Museum named after N.K. Roerich;
– all actions of various forces, discrediting the ICR team and its Public Museum, and impeding cultural, educational and scientific activities of the Centre-Museum by name of N.K. Roerich.
6. To prepare an information letter about the last International conference, the principal part of the letter should be the conclusion about the necessity of protection and preservation of the ICR and its Public Museum named after N. K.Roerich, because the preservation of the Museum by name of N. K.Roerich is an essential condition for saving Russia, which, in turn, is essential to the preservation of the world. The letter should be sent to the President of Russia, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, to Chairman of the Russian Government, to the Federation Council of Russia, and to various public and government organizations involved in culture and science.
7. To use widely the Internet resources and mass media in the countries in order to protect the ICR and the Public Museum by name of N.K. Roerich, and in order to promote the creative heritage of the Roerich family and the activities of the ICR.
8. To continue to unite the efforts of the Roerich societies in various countries and cities for the annual celebration the world day of Culture under the Banner of Peace on April, 15.
9. To continue conduction on a regular basis of scientific and public conferences on peacekeeping ideas of the Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace, in Europe, together with the International Centre of the Roerichs and the International Council of the Roerich organizations named after S. N. Roerich.
10. To prepare and publish the conference materials in the online collection.
The resolution was adopted unanimously by the conference participants.
September 16, 2016, Vienna, Austria