Pristina Ready for International Book Fair

The International Book Fair in Pristina begins tomorrow. According to organisers, everything is ready for this jubilee year to be organised in the best manner. Even for this year, there are innovations that have not been before.

Kosovo Association of Editors board member Abdullah Zeneli, in an interview for Kosova Prees, said publishers have also prepared enough to offer meetings with readers and writers in addition to the sale.

He stressed that the particular part of this fair is also the participation of French writer Francois-Henri Désérable, whose work comes to Albanian right on fair watch.

It's just a jubilee fair. It has marked its growth, whether with the publishers attending, with the accompanying activities that mark a literal book fair. Of course, there are days when publishers, writers, translators, but the fair's special are the great reading or visit showing that we have a good reader in Kosovo... The entire fair is also the participation of the French writer who comes under the fair, Francois-Henri Désérable, a young 30-year-old writer who made a fuss with his novel K. Piekielny, who comes to Albanian at the eve of this fair. The very participation of the author, his arrival in Kosovo, and the quick translation of that novel into Albanian is a privilege and honour to Albanian literature, also establishing links of Albanian literature with French and world literature, and of”, he said.

Zeneli indicated that, within the fair, around 50 different activities will be held that coincide with anniversarys this year.

As he added that this year too, the writer of the year will be declared by Albanian and foreign literature, as well as the most visited billboard.

“Sic knows it's Skenderbe's year, then it's the 200th anniversary of Juban, from our early reborns, is the 100th anniversary of the Tyar Hatip that has contributed much to the book in Kosovo and the book links between Albania and Kosovo. And then other anniversary, that's Solzhenitzin's 100th anniversary, as well as the anniversary of Migen. All will be marked, and during the fair there will also be speakers who will talk about their deeds and of course it is the day when there will be a split of the” price, Zeneli said.

The director of the publishing house “Buzuku” explained that out of 100 publishers as expected to have the fair, about 40 publishing houses are from Kosovo and 60 from other countries such as Albania, Macedonia and the diaspora. As long as the state has decided to support the book.

There are approximately 100 publishers, so that's the potential of the publishers' strength in the Albanian world today, including Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, and of course we have an influx of translations, and that's very good because it creates bridges of co-operation with world literature. Today, what is best in the world for today is soon published, and this shows that the book, in fact, has become a real industry thanks to the publishers and relevant book institutions. And of course, in this regard the state should also make little of its contribution, to further support the book”, Zeneli said.

As for the infrastructure that Kosovo currently has, although, according to him, is not commendable, Zeneli voiced optimism that existing environments create minimal opportunities for the book to become a real holiday, which will enable tradition to be maintained and competition among publishers.

He also spoke of the conduct at this year's fair, where he announced he would dominate prose and poetry.

“Yes, of course, the prose is more important, including translations from foreign languages, and Albanian literature, but no poetry. We Albanians love poetry very much. There's a great flow of poetry, but that's good... Of course, we also have memories that are interesting and practical in the world. Therefore, the fair will reveal all these values, all of these voices and the 5-6 days of this fair will have a real party”, he said.

Zenel expresses optimism about the book's life in Kosovo, until he stressed that there has been movement, since the Ministry of Education from 30,000 last year's division for the book has allocated 100,000 euros this year. According to him, Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj is also expected to back the book.

The Book Fair opens tomorrow at 6:00 as it continues until June 10th.