Bradic told a press conference that the appearance at the Frankfurt book fair, the greatest and most important exposition of books and publishing, is part of international activities aimed at endorsing the Serbian publishing sector, authors and translators.
Serbia’s successful appearance at the Moscow book fair in September served as an incentive for a more ambitious programme in Frankfurt, since it confirmed that Serbia is on the good way to properly present its culture in the world, stressed the Minister.
He commended the team, headed by chief of the national stand in Frankfurt, author and president of the Serbian PEN Centre Vida Ognjenovic, on extremely well-prepared printed material.
Bradic stressed that last year’s misunderstandings with the administration of the book fair in Frankfurt have been surpassed and that the Ministry has duly settled its contractual obligations, and recalled that the Serbian Chamber of Commerce has paid the lease for Serbia’s stand in advance.
He noted that printed material has never been prepared in such volume, adding that it includes a three-lingual catalogue of contemporary Serbian authors (in Serbian, English and German), a map of most important literary events in Serbia and a guide through the programme at the Serbian stand, at which over 500 new books issued by 34 Serbian publishers will be showcased.
On the day dedicated to poetry, actors Ana Sofrenovic and Dragan Micanovic will recite Serbian poetry in Serbian, German and English. It is also planned to inform foreign publishers about projects for translating works by Serbian writers, said Bradic.
He explained that the Belgrade book fair will be presented as a place for regional cooperation, and added that an even more ambitious plan will be prepared for Serbia’s participation in the 2009 fair based on this year’s experience.
Vida Ognjenovic stressed that Serbia’s aim is to return to the position it had held before the turbulent events in the recent past and to fight for the place which Serbian literature deserves.
She said that the Serbian PEN Centre will present its English publications, and that meetings have been scheduled with representatives of the Frankfurt fair and several other prominent cultural institutions.
According to Ognjenovic, the first and last day will be dedicated to meetings between writers and publishers from the region, and renowned writers such as Orhan Pamuk and Alberto Manguel, whose books have been translated in Serbian, have announced that they will visit the Serbian stand.