UN MILLENNIUM POSTER, FEATURING PAINTING BY CRIST+BAL GABARR+N, TO BE PRESENTED AT HEADQUARTERS 15 FEBRUARY

Press Release
PI/1223

UN MILLENNIUM POSTER, FEATURING PAINTING BY CRISTÕBAL GABARRÕN, TO BE PRESENTED AT HEADQUARTERS 15 FEBRUARY

A United Nations poster featuring a painting by the world-renowned Spanish artist Cristõbal Gabarrõn will be presented on 15 February at a special event at United Nations Headquarters.

Appearing on the poster is a "UN2000" logo that will be used in connection with the United Nations Millennium Assembly and Summit, as well as related events. The Gabarrõn painting will also be featured on other promotional products for the United Nations millennium campaign.

At the event, Mr. Gabarrõn will present to each Member State of the United Nations a signed limited edition print of the painting used in the poster. The prints, numbered one through 188, will be assigned according to the order in which each country joined the United Nations. A special print will also be given to the United Nations Secretary-General. The event, to be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Delegates Dining Room, is sponsored by the Mission of Spain to the United Nations and the Earth Pledge Foundation.

A number of Mr. Gabarrõn's works inspired by the millennium will be displayed at the launch and will be exhibited at the United Nations public lobby in May. Also, at the event, guitarist Salvador Caballero will perform Spanish Renaissance and Baroque music on original sixteenth and seventeenth century instruments.

Entitled "Dawn in the New Millennium", the painting was created by Mr. Gabarrõn as an expression of his support for the goals of the United Nations. The brightly coloured work depicts three blocks of symbolic elements representing the natural world, human civilization -- with shapes suggesting books or buildings, including one similar to United Nations Headquarters -- and the Universe. The three elements, which also represent the three millennia, are shown in harmonious coexistence, conveying the concept of the work, which the artist states is, "Live together and share".

Mr. Gabarrõn, who has had a distinguished career spanning several decades, has created pieces for a number of international cultural and sports events. Among his commissioned works are large-scale sculptures or murals for the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympics and the European Parliament, as well as the

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commemorative poster for the 1998 World Cup. In 1986, his painting "Our Hope for Peace" was reproduced by the World Federation of United Nations Associations to mark the International Year of Peace.

To consider how to strengthen the role of the world body in meeting the challenges of the twenty-first century, the United Nations General Assembly decided to designate its fifty-fifth session, starting on 5 September 2000, as the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations and to hold a Millennium Summit. The Summit, likely to be the largest-ever gathering of heads of State or government, will open on 6 September 2000 at United Nations Headquarters.

Other millennium-related events are being held during the year by various United Nations agencies and programmes, as well as non-governmental organizations. Among these, the Millennium Forum, organized by civil society groups, will take place 22 to 26 May 2000 at United Nations Headquarters. More information and a list of planned events can be found on the United Nations Millennium Web site -- www.un.org/millennium.

For additional information about the poster and millennium-related events at the United Nations, contact: Pragati Pascale, Public Affairs Division, United Nations Department of Public Information, tel. (212) 963-6870, fax (212) 963-0536, e-mail pascale@un.org.

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