Third All-Armenian Conference Of Writers Takes Place In Antelias

THIRD ALL-ARMENIAN CONFERENCE OF WRITERS TAKES PLACE IN ANTELIAS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 11 2006

ANTELIAS, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Under the
patronage of Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, about
150 writers from Armenia, Artsakh, Javakhk as well as colonies of
Diaspora participated in the 3rd All-Armenian Conference of Writers
taken place in Antelias on April 6-9. A number of reports were made
within the framework of the conference as well as an exhibition of
the Armenian book opened at the “Cilicia” museum of Mayrivank where
books published in Armenia during the recent years were presented. As
Noyan Tapan was informed by the Press Services of the Great House of
Cilicia, reports on the themes “Globalization and Modern Armenian
Literature,” “New Life Experience and New Literature,” “Diasporan
Armenian Literature by Estimation of Modern Study of Literature of
Armenia,” “The Armenian Genocide and Modern Armenian Literature,”
etc. were made at the conference. According to literary critic
Garnik Ananian, the Armenian literary-artistic conception bravely
goes forward to world challenges what often brings to refusal of
national identity, stable literary values. According to him, year
after year “writing of sweepings” enters the literary field what may
bring serious threats to the Armenian literature. American Armenian
writer Vehanuysh Tekian touched upon the problems of the Diasporan
Armenian literature. According to her, a literature has been created in
different colonies of the world continuously for years, what deserves
serious attention. And literary critic Suren Danielian emphasized
that there is no mutual understanding, field of understanding and
acquaintance between the Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian parts,
and indifference is noticed towards the Western Armenian literary
values in Armenia.

According to him, one of its reasons was the criticism of the Soviet
years, “one must gradually get rid of what.” Literary critic and
translator Alexander Topchian spoke about internalization of the
Armenian literature. According to him, the internalization of the
Armenian literature must first of all become an unseparatable part of
the state policy. This means that a clear and all-embracing program
must be worked out for presenting the Armenian literature to the world,
for what it’s necessary to unite not only creative unions of Armenia
but the intellectuals’ potential of Diaspora as well. During the
conference the Armenian writers proposed to create an internet site
where the printed press, created literature of Diaspora and Armenia
will be gathered.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS