PETER BALAKIAN: “THE STUDY OF THE GENOCIDE TOPIC MADE MY ART MORE COMMON TO ALL MANKIND”

YEREVAN, August 31 (Noyan Tapan). Peter Balakian, an American
well-known writer of Armenian origin, visited our country on the
invitation of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the
Writers’ Union of Armenia. It is the writer’s second visit to the
Homeland. Peter Balakian said during the August 30 meeting with
journalists and the AGBU leadership that he first visited Armenia
in 1987. “It was a journey that has changed my life, I would never
started writing so, if there wasn’t this visit.” Hailing the writer,
Levon Ananian, Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia, stressed that
regardless of the loss of the Armenian language, Balakian remained
an Armenian, he has searched his roots and presented the tragedy of
the beginning of the century, the Armenian Genocide, to the world
community. “The study of the Genocide topic made my art more common
to all mankind,” said Peter Balakian. He also said that his book “Sad
Days of the World” translated by Artem Harutiunian will be published
this year. Levon Ananian confered the rank of the honored member
of the Writers’ Union of Armenia to Peter Balakian. Peter Balakian
is the author of eight books. His book entitled “Tiger in Fire”,
which was awarded with several American prizes, was released in 2004,
and the “Black Dog of Fate” book was awarded with “The New York Times”
prize as the best book of the year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress