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YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS: “Armenpress” news spoke about the issues of contemporary Armenian literature with the Chairman of the Armenian Writers’ Union Levon Ananyan.
- How will you describe the current state of the Armenian printing?
- I think today the rebirth of out printing affair has been registered if we take into consideration two circumstances: first one – each year about 2500 books are being printed which is more as compared with the number of books printed in midst of 1980s. The second circumstance is the high printing quality. With their polygraph quality the books printed in Armenia do not yield to books printed in Europe. We have quite impressive printing houses. I will also add that recently the state has started supporting the printing affair, a system of state order has been established which creates an opportunity for the further development of the sphere.
- How do you assess the level of cooperation among the writers living in Armenia and diaspora?
- Recently the fifth all-Armenian conference of writers was conducted which has a quite large geography. This conference really turned into a literary holiday and once again proved that the most consolidated of the Armenia-diaspora ties is the literary bridge and the Writers’ Union and Diaspora Ministry have their contribution to it. Besides, we are also conducting conferences of Armenian writers writing in foreign languages. The recent conference took place in California.
- What developments are in process in the literary generation change sphere?
- In 2001 when I became the chairman of the Writers’ Union the youngest writer was 41 years old. During the past years we have carried out an extended work in this direction. We have formed a literary youth press, for instance “Literary Newspaper” started being published. Every year in Tsakhkadzor we are organizing gatherings of young writers, we have a special department in the Writers’ Union for the young writers. Today the young people have presented a serious claim and I think this claim must not be ignored.
- How will you assess the current state of the translated literature?
It is already known that Translation holiday has been restored which is very important. Besides, we are carrying out many programs in the sphere of translation with the writers’ unions of Iran, Georgia, Russia and trying to develop it as much as possible. We have also adopted policy of translating Armenian literature into foreign languages which demands great efforts.
- You’ve noted that the literary and printing life is rebirthing and in this condition is there a reader who must consume this literary product?
- I think connected with this issue we a little bit darken the colors. I often visit schools, universities and I see that we have a quite interesting generation. When you see that these children are on the stage at that moment you think that Armenian literature, poetry is living and these children are the bearers of our huge cultural heritage. Besides, we have initiated a program – each year February 19, the day of birthday of Tumanyan, we declared Book Presenting Day which will also promote the increase of the book image. We must realize that without literate generation our country will not have future.