AZG Armenian Daily #187, 13/10/2007
Culture
SECOND CONFERENCE OF ARMENIAN FOREIGN LANGUAGE WRITERS
On October 10-17 is being held the Second Conference of Armenian
Foreign Language Writers in Yerevan, Tsakhkadzor and Artsakh. The
motto of the conference is "National Essence and Literature".
"The First Conference was held in 2005 under the title "The Genocide
and Foreign Language Armenian Literature", informed the President of
Armenian Writers’ Union Levon Ananian at the meeting of the Armenian
writers from 18 countries with the journalists before the opening of
the conference.
30 delegates from 18 countries participate in the conference.
The conference is combined with the Day of Translators that will be
celebrated in Oshakan, where "Kantegh" prizes will be traditionally
awarded to the foreign language writers.
The conference will continue in Tsakhkadzor, and then RA Minister of
Culture Hasmik Poghosian will meet the delegates of the
conference. The delegates will be adopted also at the Holy Temple
Edzmiatsin.
To the question of a journalist "Which are the peculiarities of the
foreign language writers", the literary critic and publicist Ervand
Azatian (USA) answered,"The national issue is the same for the foreign
language writers as well. The important thing for a writer is that his
works should be written with artistic style and taste."
"Being a representative of his/her nation, the foreign language writer
writes in foreign language and develops the culture of other nation
and people. Can it have dual influence? These issues are on the agenda
of the conference", mentioned one of the initiators of the conference,
writer-translator Alexander Topchian.
The opening ceremony of the conference was held in the National
Academy of Sciences’ ceremonial hall on October 11. The President of
Armenian Writers’ Union Levon Ananian delivered the welcome speech. He
first congratulated the delegates on the adoption of Resolution 106 by
the House Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of
the US Congress. The delegates applauded standing up and then
continued their works in the conference.
Oshin Keshishian (USA), Alexander Topchian (Armenia), Sargis
Kirakosian (Lebanon), Diana Ter-Hovhannisian (USA), Nancy Grigorian
(USA) made speeches. Diana Hambardzumian read the text of Hakob
Khachikian’s (Canada) speech. After the speeches, discussions took
place and the delegates submitted their proposals.
Summing up the meeting Ervand Azatian mentioned, "When Armenians left
their motherland, they began to write and speak in different
languages, and when they return to their motherland they seem to
return to the tower of Babel, as they understand each other hardly. If
there is a spiritual connection, we will also mechanically create a
language connection, in order the spirit, the language, the literature
and the culture supplement and complete each other. That is the aim of
the conference."
By Marieta Makarian, translated by L.H.