The ICR exhibition “The Roerich Pact. The History and Modernity” started in Latin America

On May 6, 2013 the Gala opening of the ICR exhibition “The Roerich Pact. The History and Modernity” took place in the National Senate of Argentina in Buenos Aires.

The exhibition organizers are the International Centre of the Roerichs and the Committee for the Preservation of the Roerichs Heritage with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation, Ministry of External Affairs of Argentina, Senate of Argentina, Legislative Assembly of the City of Buenos Aires. Co-organizer is non-governmental organization “Mil Milenios de Paz”. The exhibition project is supported by the Embassy of Russia in Argentina and Russian Center of Science, Culture and Information in Buenos Aires. The exposition in the Hall of the National Senate of Argentina dedicated to the history of the international “Treaty on Protection of Artistic and Scientific Institutions and Historic Monuments" – the Roerich Pact which was laid as a basis for the international humanitarian law in the field of cultural heritage preservation. On the 15th of April, 1935 the Roerich Pact was signed in Washington by representatives of 21 states of the Pan-American Union including the USA.

The exposition includes paintings, reproductions, unique photos and documents dedicated to the history of realization of the initiative of Nicholas Roerich, the great Russian humanist, who managed to unite the world community of those times and initiate an international movement for preservation of Culture for future generations.

The Exhibition opening started with a press-conference with participation of Mr Samuel Cabanchik, Senator, Mr Victor Coronelly, Ambassador of Russia in Argentina, Prof. Alexey Postnikov, President of the ICR, Mrs Nancy Ducuing de Martorelli, President of the Foundation for Peace, Ecology and Art, Mrs Ines Palomeke, President of “Mil Milenios de Paz” organization.

On behalf of the National Senate of Argentina Senator S. Cabanchik presented greetings to the organizers, participants and visitors of the event, - our today's meeting is for the sake of Peace! Peace is the necessary condition for the development of humanity. Like the Banner of Peace this exhibition appeals to human conscience and consciousness... There is a direct link between the Roerich Pact and the UN legislative acts but the movement for the preservation of cultural heritage is not only of the constitutional but of the universal significance

H.E. Mr Victor Coronelly, Ambassador of Russia in Argentina, noted that organizing of this exhibition in Argentina is a very important event. He emphasized the fact that Argentina was one of the first states that signed the Roerich Pact. Therefore the exhibition in Buenos Aires is a recognition of not only the Roerich Pact but Argentina's contribution to the process of its implementation.

In his speech addressed to participants of the event Prof. A. Postnikov said, - it is quite natural that the ICR exhibition project in Latin America started with Argentina - the country where Nicholas Roerich ideas on the preservation of cultural heritage have been developed successfully. He marked that on November 28, 2012 the law about annual celebration of the International Day of Peace on September 21 was adopted by the government of Argentina. This day the Banner of Peace will be raised over all governmental and non-governmental institutions of culture. - I hope that this remarkable achievement of Argentina in the field of culture preservation will inspire the same initiatives in other countries. Prof. Postnikov informed the audience that after Argentina the exhibition would be continued in Uruguay, Chili and Ecuador.

Ms Nanci Ducuing de Martorelli, President of the Foundation for Peace, Ecology and Art expressed her warm gratitude to the International Centre of the Roerichs for bringing the exhibition to Argentina.

At the end of the press-conference Prof. A. Postnikov passed on to Senator S. Cabanchik the Banner of Peace for the National Senate of Argentina.