Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 5 February (BelTA) – Book production in Belarus corresponds to the international standards, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Zvyazda publishing house Alexander Karlyukevich said when opening the 21st Minsk International Book Fair, BelTA has learnt.

“Indeed, today's celebration says that the Belarusian book travels around the world. The Belarusian books presented in Minsk show that in the artistic context they are not less interesting than publications printed in other countries,” said Alexander Karliukevich.

He noted that in different times philosophers compared the book with the ship of thoughts. "Let us hope that these thoughts, being the printed book, will continue marching around the world," he said.

First Deputy Information Minister of Belarus Lilia Ananich addressed the guests and participants of the Minsk International Book Fair. She read out the message from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

For his part, Chairman of the Union of Writers of Belarus Nikolai Cherginets noted that the Minsk book fair gives the opportunity to showcase not only the best books and printed products but also their authors including young writers. Nikolai Cherginets expressed gratitude to the Information Ministry which, year after year, organizes such an important event.

During the opening ceremony, the ribbon was cut by First Deputy Information Minister of Belarus Lilia Ananich, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Zvyazda publishing house Alexander Karlyukevich, Deputy Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Vladimir Garkun, pilot-cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky and Chairman of the Union of Writers of Belarus Nikolai Cherginets.

More than 600 exhibitors from 26 countries are taking part in the 21st edition of the Minsk International Book Fair. This year there will be no guest of honor. The organizers decided that Belarus should showcase its achievements in the book industry as broadly as possible and give each country the same opportunity. The slogan and motto of the book fair are All books and countries are welcome.

The Minsk book fair is showcasing a great number of different publishing projects, thematic expositions, presentations of books, meetings with authors, and autograph sessions. The book fair will also feature a meeting of the Council of Organizers of Book Fairs held in CIS member states and the CIS Council of Heads of Book Chambers and also a workshop on the practical aspects of the new law on publishing in the Republic of Belarus.

The event will be running until 9 February. It has been organized by the Information Ministry, OAO Belkniga and the Makbel company.