President Klaus Iohannis signs Centennial Book: I did this with the feeling that history, with its actions and documents, is not only a book written by the forefathers, but also a chronicle that continuously updates itself. We will spend 1st of December in Bucharest and in Alba Iulia.

On Thursday, President Klaus Iohannis signed the Centennial Book, stating that the idea of presenting to the public the testimonies of the 1918 moment, along with those of today’s Romania, is appropriate even more so since our country is getting ready to take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Iohannis said he signed “with the feeling that history, with its actions and documents, is not only a book written by the forefathers, but also a chronicle that continuously updates itself.” “I did this with the feeling that history, with its actions and documents, is not only a book written by the forefathers, but also a chronicle that continuously updates itself. That is precisely why each generation must understand and undertake the responsibility of contributing, through decisions and actions, to raising Romania’s profile and prestige,” the Head of State said at the ceremony. He stated that this Centennial Book is the replica, over the years, of the Golden Book made in 1929 to mark the celebration of the Great Union of 1 December 2018. Part of the heritage of the Union Museum of Alba Iulia, the Golden Book contains the names and signatures of those who formed the Romanian state, who took the commitment to build a modern and democratic country for all of its citizens. “The idea of presenting to the public the testimonies of the 1918 moment, together with those of today’s Romania, is appropriate even more so since our country, while celebrating the Centennial, is getting ready to play a role of top importance within the large family whose member it is, by taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Putting the two anthologies of signatures side by side will convey to everyone a message that I identify with: honouring the past, honouring the heroes and all those who led to the progress of Romania means putting integrity, competences and vision in the service of our country, in our own turn,” Klaus Iohannis stated. The President added that the monuments for heroes or those dedicated to national unity would be mere ceremonial symbols expressing the aspirations of Romanians and the sacrifices of the forefathers if Romanians were to no longer remain committed to Romania’s historical development path. “It is the public authorities and civil society’s responsibility to carry forward this process, based on openness toward Europe and on the assuming of Western values, for which generations of Romanians fought in the last century. I call on all those who will sign this document, destined for future generations, to do it with the outlook that the sacrifices and actions of 100 years ago impose on us, and with the responsibility of the obligations we have today for the future of the Romania of tomorrow,” Iohannis said. In his turn, he gifted to the Union Museum a bowl containing earth from around the Cotroceni Palace’s church, the place where King Ferdinand was informed, on 1 December 2018, about the decision adopted by the National Assembly in Alba Iulia to unite Transylvania with Romania. Alba Iulia Mayor Mircea Hava and Alba County Council Chairman Ion Dumitrel also took part in the ceremony at the Cotroceni Palace.