April 24th to May 12th. Armenian Ambassador Melikyan, Deputy Secretary Claudio Avruj and Turkish intellectual, human rights activist Ragip Zarakolu.talked to more then 1600 people Zarakolu demanded freeedom for writers in prison in Turkey. Freedom for Sevan Nisanyan, Yuksel Genc, Fusun Erdogan and Dursun Yildiz!
The 40th International Book Fair is being held in Buenos Aires from April 24th to May 12th. Armenia is one of the more than 40 countries participating in the book fair, and the Day of the Republic of Armenia was traditionally celebrated on May 1st.
More than 1,600 people attended the main event of the day held at José Hernandez Exhibition Hall under the patronage of the RA Embassy in Argentina and with the support of the Armenian Center of Argentina. The event began with opening remarks by RA Ambassador to Argentina Vahagn Melikyan, followed by speeches by Deputy Secretary of Buenos Aires City Council for Human Rights and Cultural Diversity Claudio Avruj and Turk intellectual, activist, human rights activist Ragip Zarakolu.
In his speech, Ambassador Melikyan particularly mentioned: “For the past 40 years, the International Book Fair in Buenos Aires has always turned into a unique and beautiful celebration that not only provides the representatives of different nationalities with the opportunity to become familiar with world literature, but also bears the symbol of bringing people closer to literature, awakening their love for books, engaging them in cross-cultural dialogue and promoting mutual understanding and tolerance.
In his speech, Deputy Secretary Claudio Avruj addressed the Armenian-Argentinean political and cultural relations and the role and significance of the Armenian community in Argentina, attaching importance to the community’s valuable contributions to the country’s society, politics and culture. Touching upon international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the Argentinean government’s consistent efforts, Claudio Avruj informed that by the decision of the municipal authorities of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires City Council will allocate a free space for the construction of an Armenian Genocide Museum in Palermo District ahead of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.
In his speech, Turk journalist, intellectual Ragip Zarakolu condemned the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey and the current Turkish government’s policy of denial, as well as addressed the brutal murders of the Armenian intellectuals who were killed during the Armenian Genocide, including Ruben Sevak, Siamanto, Daniel Varujan, Grigor Zohrab and others. He mentioned also the murder of turkish writer Sabahattin Ali, Hrant Dink and Publisher İlhan Erdost. And he expressed his anxiousness for the writers in prison in Turkey, like Sevan Nishanyan, Yuksel Genç, Dursun Yildiz and Füsun Erdogan. And he demanded urgent freedom for them.
He remembered also famous book of Austrian writer Franz Werfel was banned in 1933 by Turkish and German Governments together. Ragıp Zarakolu said that he is proud, of to publish Franz Werfel’s “40 Days in Musadag” in 1997. (ana)
Pam [szarakolu@yahoo.com]
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