AGERPRES historical images on display at UN hdqtrs.; UN senior official Lajcak: Romania, modern, well-integrated country

A photo exhibition of the AGERPRES National News Agency called "Romania: Evolution 100 Years," part of the celebrations of the December 1, 1918 Greater Union Centennial, opened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, with the UN General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak highlighting the progress of Romania, about which he said is currently "modern and well-integrated."

Also taking the floor at the opening were Romania's permanent representative to the United Nations Ion Jinga, AGERPRES Director General Alexandru Giboi and President and CEO of the Associated Press Gary Pruitt.

"There is say: a picture is worth a thousand words. You will discover in this exhibition and the brochure that we are distributing some old pictures from the last century showcasing famous Romanian artists like the composer George Enescu or the writer Eugen Ionescu and our Royal Family," said Jinga, highlighting the essential moments in the foreign policy of Romania.

"We have proven during the last 100 years that we care about the others. In 1919, Romania was a founding member of the League of Nations, and since then we have shown a continuing commitment to multilateral diplomacy. After joining the United Nations in 1955, Romania became an advocate of peacebuilding, international justice and development worldwide," said Jinga.

He also reminded that "a long-term commitment to peace, justice and development is therefore the motto of Romania's candidature for a non-permanent seat to the Security Council for the period 2020-2021."

"If we were to look at these 100 years, one can say that this was a turbulent era because the fact that your country went through the most devastating war and also the most oppressive totalitarian regime, to mention just two extremes," said President of the United Nations General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak.

He added that, "during this 100 years, Romania experienced probably all political models that exist." Lajcak said that current Romania is "a modern, successful, well-integrated country" that is "highly respected as a player on a regional and also global level."

In the same context, the UN official also mentioned Romania's contribution to peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance.

AGERPRES Director General Alexandru Giboi talked about the importance of this exhibition to the media organisation he is heading.

"It is our second photo exhibition here and I think [it is] our most important event in the last years," he pointed out. At the same time, he highlighted the moment when this exhibition takes place.

"Centennial, as it should be understood, in my opinion at least, is not only a moment in which any country should recollect and look back in history and analyse what was good, what was wrong, but it is a moment of fresh beginnings (...) I am very happy that I could bring a small part of Romania's history and a bigger part but a small part of Romania's evolution to the United Nations. It is a privilege for AGERPRES to be here," said Giboi.

The "Romania: Evolution - 100 Years" photo exhibition includes historical images from the AGERPRES Photo Library, the best pictures taken in recent years by AGERPRES photographers, as well as images from the Associated Press Photo Library.

In this context, Gary Pruitt, president and CEO of The Associated Press, spoke of the media's "strong rapprochement" with AGERPRES, but also about the challenges of the media industry.

"AGERPRES has been going since the 19th century, since 1889, into the 21st, and you don't do that in media without staying abreast of the latest technology and the latest trends as they have in news gathering and news distribution," he said.

Pruitt also mentioned the importance of journalism at present.

"Being in the news media toady is not an easy time, we are at a time when people create news and think facts are malleable, and some world leaders call articles and news they disagree with fake, and yet I will tell it's in these times when having non-partisan, fact-based journalism and news is more important than ever before, so that people can be fully informed and participate as citizens to improve their lives."

Pruitt also mentioned the principles shared with AGERPRES.

"I know that AGERPRES, as a news agency, and the Associated Press stands for these principles and it's a pleasure for me tonight to be here at the United Nations headquarters as we think of the citizens of the world becoming informed to live a better life. And I am honoured to be here in this fine exhibit commemorating the Great Centennial of Romania," said Pruitt.

Also unveiled at the event was a special edition of the AGERPRES "Romania: Evolution" album commemorating the centennial of the Greater Union containing 100 photos from Romania, grouped together in three chapters: Archives, Revolution, Evolution.

The pictures in the AGERPRES Photo Library reflect the cultural, artistic, economic, political and sports life of the country, as well as the great transformations and events that have taken place over time.

The agency's photojournalists captured interwar Bucharest with its artists such as Maria Tanase and Constantin Tanase entertaining the Romanian troops; the December 1989 Revolution, as well as recent events. Throughout 2018, the exhibition will travel Romania and abroad as a project dedicated to the Greater Union Centennial by AGERPRES with support from several embassies of Romania.

The exhibition can be visited throughout February 23, 2018, at the UN headquarters in New York. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Catalin Alexandru; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)