ROMANIA'S NATIONAL DAY, CELEBRATED THROUGH AN EXHIBITION IN NEW YORK Cristina Chiriac: "The Romanian blouse has earned its status as an ambassador of every Romanian abroad"

Reporter: How would you describe Romania's national identity?

Cristina Chiriac: Romania's national identity is, first of all, a complex concept, which varies in importance from one individual to the next. To me, the national identity is a feeling that is mutually shared on a general level by individuals, a strong emotion which resides within our souls and every now and then comes out organically, naturally. It is that state of well-being, of pride that we are part of a people in which we find ourselves. I think that our national identity is the main form of belonging, of identification with a community, it is a product of the citizens' interest in a shared history.

Reporter: Do you think that the Romanian people has a "national consciousness"? What do you think are the Romanians' "common points"?

Cristina Chiriac: Definitely. I strongly believe that the Romanian people has a rather strong national consciousness. It may not appear to be the case at first glance, but with every person I come in contact with, I have found within them that feeling of pride of being a Romanian, with many of them also having that feeling of having to protect their country at any cost, the fierce desire to change things for the better. It makes me happy that most of these people are young; young people with initiative, ambition and the hope for a better future. In my opinion, Romanians are slowly learning to promote the values and the culture that they have inherited from their ancestors.

The things that Romanians have in common are first of all the shared values and rules such as: the culture, the history, the democratic values, the national motifs, the symbols, the national currency etc.

Reporter: What place does the national garb hold in our national identity?

Cristina Chiriac: The Romanian garb, the Romanian folk clothing, is, I think, one of the defining elements for any Romanian. Moreover, I honestly feel that the Romanian blouse has earned its status of ambassador for all Romanians living abroad. The folk garb is a precious fragment of the Romanians' glorious past, it is part of our identity, it is a unique, special element, which sets us apart from any other nation. But the question is how the folk garb has been assimilated, of the manner in which that concept and that of national identity coexist, based on the perceptions and the extent to which Romanians relate with them.

Reporter: Does the Romanian people have the cultural and spiritual resources needed to strengthen its national identity?

Cristina Chiriac: The Romanian people is one of the peoples that have a large cultural heritage. We are the proud owners of traditional Romanian motifs that are unique in the world, that inspire even the great designers in their concepts, we have legends which have made it around the world, we have crafts that are unique all over the world, which are still being practiced in the smaller Romanian villages. The variety of traditions, symbols and customs that set us apart creates powerful spiritual resources ... that can support and reinforce the national identity, recreating an authentic Romania.

Reporter: Were the street protests, after the tragedy in the "Colectiv" club, a manifestation of our national identity?

Cristina Chiriac: As it gets said so often, Romanians unfortunately are the most united when a tragedy happens. This incident has moved, upset and angered the entire nation. It was like that drop which filled the glass when it comes to the accumulated discontent, which was expressed freely in the street. Unfortunately, the reason which has united the Romanian people this time was the tragedy in the "Colectiv" club. But we have succeeded in surprising the whole world through the solidarity that we have demonstrated. The youth have felt defenseless and overwhelmed by the event. As a result, they have chosen to unite, to uphold and state their rights and to reform today's Romania, into a country of trust, of future.

Reporter: What makes the identity of a person? What makes the identity of a nation?

Cristina Chiriac: I have learned, by watching people, that there is no progress without them, and therefore, there is no future without them. I have learned from people that only together can they build a destiny. I have learned that a nation that finds its self in its thought and feelings is not only confident, but powerful as well. I have learned that a nation which is indifferent when it comes to its future is a nation which condemns itself.

Reporter: What are the values that the Romanian people ought to preserve, in the context of globalization and EU integration? How can we protect ourselves from this phenomenon?

Cristina Chiriac: With the integration of Romania into the EU and the evolution of the globalization phenomenon, I think that the Romanian people must find a balance between the national and the European identity. The youth must be encouraged to express their own identity, even when getting in direct contact with the members of other cultures. This can be an opportunity to rediscover their own country and to reconnect to their own values and defining traits. There is an increasing number of people, particularly young people, who decide to pursue their higher education abroad, and even more, they decide to build a career abroad. The European Union has taken significant steps to create a feeling of social solidarity, of European community, but once they arrive abroad, the young people define themselves based on their own nationality first of all. The latest Eurobarometers, from the spring of 2014, show an increase in the feeling of European affiliation among every age bracket, predominantly where young people are concerned. Furthermore, more than half of respondents first of all define themselves according to their own nationality and only then based on their European citizenship, which is extremely relevant when it comes to the conflict between the two identities.

Reporter: Have the conflicts in the region made the emotion of national identity to become stronger?

Cristina Chiriac: As a personal opinion, I think that the latest regional conflicts have emphasized this feeling of national identity. I think that this feeling has always been just as strong, but right now they have all succeeded in banding together under the same emotions, seeking to recreate a political space that is optimal for the economy and the development of the country.

Reporter: The concept of "national interest" has been underplayed. Do you think that, in the context of globalization, there is still room for talking about "national interest"?

Cristina Chiriac: Each nation has its own objectives and goals, economic as well as political, cultural or social, and they contribute to the national interest. I have learned from history that a nation's destiny is written through actions. I have learned from democracy that if we Romanians, want to be a nation, we should stop thinking like a population. A nation is built on: people, actions, future.