60th international book fair opens in Serbia

The 60th international book fair opened in Belgrade on Sunday with Russia as the guest of honor and the participation of some 500 exhibitors, of which 67 come from outside Serbia.

The fair was opened with speeches by Russian historian and writer Natalya Narochnitskaya, Serbian film director and writer Emir Kusturica and the performance of opera singer Jadranka Jovanovic in front of several thousand people.

"In our times we can often hear that books are becoming a thing of the past, and that digital age dictates its rules and the way of living, but actually it proves something else - the power of words is getting bigger, as well as the responsibility for spoken and printed words," Narochnitskaya said in her opening speech, stressing that Russia and Serbia should engage in translating and publishing works of their writers in order to achieve better understanding between them.

Kusturica stressed poetically the importance of being literate.

"It is a formula that opens doors of reachable mysteries and blessings that one man can fulfill in his short stay on the Earth. Only a literate man can be happy," Kusturica told gathered people.

The international book fair, among the most important annual cultural events in the region, took place on the 30,000-square-meter Belgrade Fair and will last until November 1, gathering biggest local, regional and international publishers and writers.

Russian delegation of writers includes Pavel Basinski, Sergey Belyakov, and Victor Erofeyev, Sergei Lukyanenko, Boris Yevseyev, Zakhar Prilepin and Eduard Verkin.

Besides Russia, the guest of honor who has the central place at the fair, this year's participants came from more than 20 countries such as Angola, Belarus, Brazil, Britain, India, Iran, Italy, China, Germany, Japan, France, the Netherlands, Spain, etc.

During the fair the organizers will announce the winner of the awards of Publisher of the Year and Publishing Venture of the Year. Endit