YEREVAN NAMED WORLD BOOK CAPITAL IN 2012
ITAR-TASS
April 23, 2012 Monday 03:26 AM GMT+4
Russia
Yerevan was named the World Book Capital in 2012 after Buenos Aires
in the previous year. The United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Association of
Book Publishers and the international alliances of book traders and
library associations named the Armenian capital as the World Book
Capital this year.
"It is symbolic that the Armenian capital became the 12th World Book
Capital particularly in 2012," Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
stated on Sunday. He recalled that the 500th anniversary of book
printing on the Armenian language is celebrated this year.
"For the nation, which marks the 500th anniversary of book printing,
this is a great honour, the high evaluation of the merits to the
world culture," the president said.
"The first Armenian printer Akop Megapart published four printed books
on the Armenian language in the remote city of Venice in 1512. After
two centuries of roaming over various cities in the world the book
printing on the Armenian language settled in the homeland in 1771,"
Sargsyan recalled. Then the first Armenian printing office was founded
in Etchmiadzin and the first book was printed, he recalled. "Our
people had a deep love to the native language, manuscripts and the
knowledge always, even when it seemed that it is even impossible to
think about it," the president pointed out.
Sargsyan believes that numerous events, which will be held under
the program of Yerevan as the World Book Capital, pursue "one goal
is to note again the importance of the role of the book in our life,
and show once again one place on the world map." These events should
"state again that we are the nation with the spirit that can value,
preserve and enrich not only Armenian, but also world and common
human spiritual and cultural heritage."
The officials from the Bangkok Mayor's Office (Thailand), as this city
will become the next world book capital, also attended a ceremony to
name Yerevan as the World Book Capital at the Yerevan's Mayor's Office.
The Armenian post issued a souvenir sheet, which was franked on the
occasion on Sunday.
Talented children from the Yerevan secondary schools showed their
pictures and asphalt graffiti on the central Square of Republic
in Yerevan. Not only residents of the Armenian capital, but also
numerous guest from 30 countries were watching the drawings. The
grandson of a famous English poet George Byron, Lord Robin Byron was
among the guests.
The book exhibition Armbook Expo opened at the Yerevan cultural and
recreational centre. Armenian and foreign publishing houses, which
print the books on the Armenian language, presented their produce at
the exhibition.
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli gave an open-air concert on the square in
front of the Yerevan Opera Theatre. About 20,000 people are expected
to attend this free concert.
ITAR-TASS
April 23, 2012 Monday 03:26 AM GMT+4
Russia
Yerevan was named the World Book Capital in 2012 after Buenos Aires
in the previous year. The United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Association of
Book Publishers and the international alliances of book traders and
library associations named the Armenian capital as the World Book
Capital this year.
"It is symbolic that the Armenian capital became the 12th World Book
Capital particularly in 2012," Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
stated on Sunday. He recalled that the 500th anniversary of book
printing on the Armenian language is celebrated this year.
"For the nation, which marks the 500th anniversary of book printing,
this is a great honour, the high evaluation of the merits to the
world culture," the president said.
"The first Armenian printer Akop Megapart published four printed books
on the Armenian language in the remote city of Venice in 1512. After
two centuries of roaming over various cities in the world the book
printing on the Armenian language settled in the homeland in 1771,"
Sargsyan recalled. Then the first Armenian printing office was founded
in Etchmiadzin and the first book was printed, he recalled. "Our
people had a deep love to the native language, manuscripts and the
knowledge always, even when it seemed that it is even impossible to
think about it," the president pointed out.
Sargsyan believes that numerous events, which will be held under
the program of Yerevan as the World Book Capital, pursue "one goal
is to note again the importance of the role of the book in our life,
and show once again one place on the world map." These events should
"state again that we are the nation with the spirit that can value,
preserve and enrich not only Armenian, but also world and common
human spiritual and cultural heritage."
The officials from the Bangkok Mayor's Office (Thailand), as this city
will become the next world book capital, also attended a ceremony to
name Yerevan as the World Book Capital at the Yerevan's Mayor's Office.
The Armenian post issued a souvenir sheet, which was franked on the
occasion on Sunday.
Talented children from the Yerevan secondary schools showed their
pictures and asphalt graffiti on the central Square of Republic
in Yerevan. Not only residents of the Armenian capital, but also
numerous guest from 30 countries were watching the drawings. The
grandson of a famous English poet George Byron, Lord Robin Byron was
among the guests.
The book exhibition Armbook Expo opened at the Yerevan cultural and
recreational centre. Armenian and foreign publishing houses, which
print the books on the Armenian language, presented their produce at
the exhibition.
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli gave an open-air concert on the square in
front of the Yerevan Opera Theatre. About 20,000 people are expected
to attend this free concert.