AGERPRES special correspondent to New York, the US, Mariana Nica reports
"Romania Day on Broadway" is an excellent initiative that we support, because it offers the opportunity to talk about Romanian culture and customs, Romania's ambassador to the US Dan-Andrei Muraru told AGERPRES on Sunday.
"I was at this festival for the first time two years ago, when the embassy was only invited, did not get involved in the organisation and I thought it was an excellent initiative to have this famous boulevard - Broadway in the financial district of New York, the city that never sleeps - to have such a chance. And this year we decided to get involved. So, the embassy was one of the organisers, we got involved financially, we supported this festival, because I think it's an extraordinary opportunity to talk about Romanian culture, about customs, about what we do quite little outside Romania, that is, soft power, to reach the common man, the average American and to be able to taste, literally and figuratively, a little bit from Romania. We have seen several thousand Romanians and Americans since the early hours of the morning, as well as many citizens of Moldova, and that can only make us happy," said Muraru.
He added that Romanians in the US would like to see more official initiatives that involve Romanian Americans, because few are organised under different initiatives.
"What Romanians in the US would like to see from us are initiatives that get Romanian Americans involved, because few are organised under different initiatives, whether it is a church or a community centre or a film festival that is organised and the geography of the place prevents many of them from participating in such events, although there are almost a million Romanian Americans in the US. Obviously, where the communities are larger, as in Chicago for example, it is much easier to organise and initiate something, but they would like to see some initiatives that come to them and that would involve them as individuals."
Muraru also said that there are many Romanians who work at large companies in the US and could get financially involved in various causes in Romania.
"Romania Day on Broadway" is the largest Romanian festival in the US, an event that reached its 23rd edition this year, with chairman of the Romanian-American Business Council (RABC) Stefan Minovici being founder of the festival.
In his opinion, in addition to the artistic moments and tastings, the Broadway event should bring Romanians living in the US closer to Romanians back home, in Romania, and also to the problems they face.
"We cannot ignore those at home, which is why we must fight for a better, more generous, more humane Romania," said Minovici.
"Romania Day on Broadway" debuted in 2000, with the event being organised under a partnership with the Romanian Embassy in the US, the Consulate General of Romania in New York and the Romanian Cultural Institute. The event includes artistic showsdesigned to promote among Americans the most beautiful aspects of Romanian culture, customs, values and traditions.
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