The Romanian Post is launching a new set of two se-tenant postage stamps dedicated to the 23rd Universal Postal Congress that will take place in Bucharest from the 15th of September to the 5th of October 2004.
The Universal Postal Union (UPU), one of the oldest international organizations in the world, was created in 1874 through the Treaty of Bern and it was first named General Postal Union. Romania was one the 22 founding members. In 1878, the name General Postal Union was changed to Universal Postal Union and from 1948 it became a specialized agency of the United Nations. UPU’s headquarters are in Bern (Switzerland).
The Universal Postal Union is the primary forum for cooperation between postal administrations. The organization’s main objective is to improve the quality of the international mail service and to make postal services accessible, affordable, reliable and secure for all citizens of the world.
The Universal Postal Congress is the supreme authority of the UPU and brings together plenipotentiaries of all member countries. Romania has the honour to be the first East European country to host this major event held every five years.
The 31,000 lei (ROL) stamp illustrates the logo of the UPU. The logo’s design was inspired by the commemorative monument made by the French sculptor Rene de Saint-Marceau. The monument depicts five messengers that represent the five continents passing letters around the globe.
On the other stamp, of 31,000 lei (ROL), is illustrated the logo of the 23rd Universal Postal Congress, that pictures a flying dove carrying a letter in its beak, symbolizing the freedom of communication. The circle that surrounds the two elements suggests the idea of union.
