The 40th International Book Fair is being held in Buenos
Aires from April 24th to May 12th. Armenia is one of the more than 40 countries
participating in the book fair, and the Day of the Republic of Armenia was
traditionally celebrated on May 1st.
More than 1,600 people attended the main event of the day
held at José Hernandez Exhibition Hall under the patronage of the RA Embassy in
Argentina and with the support of the Armenian Center of Argentina. The event
began with opening remarks by RA Ambassador to Argentina Vahagn Melikyan,
followed by speeches by Deputy Secretary of Buenos Aires City Council for Human
Rights and Cultural Diversity Claudio Avruj and Turk intellectual, activist,
human rights activist Ragip Zarakolu.
In his speech, Ambassador Melikyan particularly
mentioned: “For the past 40 years, the International Book Fair in Buenos Aires
has always turned into a unique and beautiful celebration that not only
provides the representatives of different nationalities with the opportunity to
become familiar with world literature, but also bears the symbol of bringing
people closer to literature, awakening their love for books, engaging them in
cross-cultural dialogue and promoting mutual understanding and tolerance.
In his speech, Deputy Secretary Claudio Avruj addressed
the Armenian-Argentinean political and cultural relations and the role and
significance of the Armenian community in Argentina, attaching importance to
the community’s valuable contributions to the country’s society, politics and
culture. Touching upon international recognition and condemnation of the
Armenian Genocide, as well as the Argentinean government’s consistent efforts,
Claudio Avruj informed that by the decision of the municipal authorities of
Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires City Council will allocate a free space for the
construction of an Armenian Genocide Museum in Palermo District ahead of the Centennial
of the Armenian Genocide.
In his speech, Turk journalist, intellectual Ragip
Zarakolu condemned the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey and the
current Turkish government’s policy of denial, as well as addressed the brutal
murders of the Armenian intellectuals who were killed during the Armenian
Genocide, including Ruben Sevak, Siamanto, Daniel Varujan, Grigor Zohrab and
others. He mentioned also the murder of turkish writer Sabahattin Ali, Hrant
Dink and Publisher İlhan Erdost. And he expressed his anxiousness for the
writers in prison in Turkey, like Sevan Nishanyan, Yuksel Genç, Dursun Yildiz
and Füsun Erdogan. And he demanded urgent freedom for them.
He remembered also famous book of Austrian writer Franz
Werfel was banned in 1933 by Turkish and German Governments together. Ragıp
Zarakolu said that he is proud, of to publish
Franz Werfel’s “40 Days in Musadag” in 1997. (ana)
Pam [szarakolu@yahoo.com]
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