New editor of Armenia’s “Literary Newspaper” Karine Khodikyan presents the upcoming programs

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS: From March 1 the “Literary Newspaper” will be headed by well-known dramaturge, former deputy minister of culture of Armenia Karine Khodikyan who is taking this office for already second time.

Armenpress news agency spoke with Karine Khodikyan about the coming programs.

- Mrs Khodikyan, it is not your first entrance to the “Literary Newspaper”. Before being appointed deputy minister of culture you were in this position. What do you feel now? What expectations do you have?

- People say you cannot enter the same river twice, but it appears you can if it is the “Literary Newspaper” (smiles). Yes, I go there for the second time. The walls are the same, the atmosphere and the staff too. So, I have feeling like I return home. I am returning to my family. I have just put issues in front of me to solve them.

- Which will your first step be?

- The very first thing will be creation of website. It will not be a newspaper only. My slogan is “or everything, or nothing”. So, it will not be a newspaper only, it will be a cultural portal. This is our objective. I want to have such establishment which will be able to gather artists, sculptors, composers, art figures. If I do not manage to do it by the end of the year, I will leave the office, as I will have nothing to do.

- What changes do you want to make in the content of the newspaper?

- I want to help writer to express himself/herself not only with work but with his/her word, position, civil assessments, for making the newspaper interesting to read not only for writers but common readers as well. I want it to be today’s newspaper.

- Mrs Khodikyan, the Union of Writers of Armenia has more than 400 members. How do you want to gather everyone over the newspaper?

- Everyone must gather not over the newspaper but an idea. All must be united in speech – I give you a platform you may say what you want. In case the writer’s opinion will not coincide with the opinion of people, it is not the issue of the society, but the writer. We must think why the people do not understand writers. The issue belongs to the speaker, the listener will always be found.

- Usually, it is accepted to think that it is very easy to hurt writers. How will you head the newspaper without “hurting” the aged writers?

- I afraid in that case I will stay at home (laughs). I respect people’s age, their contribution but if anachronism surrounds me, I will be uncompromising.

The issue of the “Literary Newspaper” will be searching for spiritual Armenia.