On September, 25, 2014 North-West Interfax Agency press-center held a press-conference: “International Exhibition Project “The Roerich Pact. History and Modernity”. The press-conference was held before the opening of the exhibition of the same name in the Russian National Library, St.Petersburg.  A.V.Stetzenko, vice-president of the International Center of the Roerichs, first deputy-director of the Roerich Museum, E.A.Tomsha, chairman of the St.Petersburg Branch of the ICR and O.A.Cherkasova, director of the Izvara museum-estate took part in the press-conference.

The press-conference aimed to explain main ideas of the International exhibition project, to remind the world community on the beginnings of the international movement for protection of cultural values and to pay attention to the urgency of Nicholas Roerich’s peaceful ideas nowadays.

A.V.Stetzenko, vice-president of the International Center of the Roerichs, first deputy-director of the Roerich Museum told the journalists that “The Roerich Pact. History and modernity” exhibition is a part of the International Exhibition Project dated to the signing of the first international Treaty on protection of artistic and scientific institutions and historic monuments which 80 anniversary will be celebrated in 2015.

The International exhibition project “The Roerich Pact. History and modernity” started in 2012 in Jeneva. Since then the Project visited France, Switzerland, Argentina, Uruguay, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Netherlands and India. A.V.Stetzenko added that the exhibition reminds people about great contribution of Nicholas Roerich to the history, culture and evolution of civilization. At present there is no peace on the planet and the Roerich’s call “Peace through Culture” is extremely urgent today. The Roerich Pact stands for not only preservation of cultural heritage during wars, but in peaceful time as well; the Pact defends cultural objects and also people working in the cultural institutions, stressed A.V.Stetzenko.

E.A.Tomsha, chairman of the St.Petersburg Branch of the ICR told the journalists about the beginnings of the Roerich’s ideas to protect the ancient monuments and objects which started in St.Petersburg. It was in 1899 during  Roerich’s archeological work near St.Petersburg  that the future Pact author first thought about the necessity of preservation of cultural values. Roerich’s further activity resulted in signing of the Treaty in Washington in 1935. The Treaty was called The Roerich Pact.

E.A.Tomsha  thanked the Russian National Library for large preparation work for the Exhibition. Visitors can see unique books with Roerich’s articles and paintings, scans of his articles and manuscripts; the original Roerich’s poster “Enemy of the Human Race”, which was well-known during the 1st World War.

O.A.Cherkasova, the Izvara museum-estate director told the journalists about the role of the Izvara estate in Roerich’s life and work. It was there that Roerich’s outlook started to form.

The press-conference finished with the answers on the journalists’ questions.