Book fair opens, less asphalt is required to increase investments for the book

A special ceremony has opened the 21st Book Fair in Pristina, which will remain open until 9 June at the facilities of the Youth Palace.

In this case, the Association of Kosovo Editors asked the country's institutions to invest more in libraries, and less in extending asphalt.

Association Chairman Edon Zeneli said the country's institutions should increase their attention to libraries so that readers can return to where they belong.

Although he said keeping the book fair alive in a small country like Kosovo represents top news, Zeneli added that the ASK report for small numbers of readers in the library requires immediate institutional commitment.

The ferns coming from the fair show that interest is increasing, but our public libraries do not have the institutional attention they should have. I say that at the national level... 2-3 km of asphalt less, as a figure, is too much for the road to knowledge. We'll have many activities at the fair. More books are being published than ever have been published, and we have been able to publish books from every field, out of every interest. Some 100 publishers from Kosovo, Albania, Northern Macedonia and the diaspora are present. Hundreds of titles published by last year's fair are presented, even as a figure, exceed the number of 1500 previous titles”, he said.

Also present at the opening ceremony were representatives of institutions, public faces, and writers.

Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti, who said all this organisation is credited to the Association of Publishing.

According to him, it is extremely welcome that English literature is also finding room among the books the book fair offers.

I wish you all to visit the book fair as much as possible, buy books, read books, because this is really one of the foundations and foundations of our culture if we want to build it further”, Ahmeti said.

Albania's Ambassador Kemal Minxhozi said it is extraordinary how Kosovo celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, until the fair marks its 21st anniversary.

After Tirana, he said the second most important fair is this of Pristina.

Kosovo's “Panair has started its journey in the first year of the third decade. There are 20 annual celebrations in Kosovo, while today we celebrate the 21st anniversary. It is something unique and special that Kosovo, at the height of the war, opened the Albanian Book Fair for the first time. A major, historic event, for the book, along with the rifle, to drop freedom”, Minxhozi said.

The writer, Fatos Congoli, expressed satisfaction that at the book fair he will meet many readers from Kosovo. As he expressed optimism that this will be a new opportunity for him as a writer.

I personally owe Kosovo, in all its sense, much because I have felt supported by readers and by Kosovo writers, from the environment here. So I hope this coming this time will give me even greater satisfaction because I come with a new book”, he said.

At the official opening of the fair, even foreign authors were not absent. Thus, writer Juan Asensio said he feels honored to have been invited to attend the opening of the book fair in Pristina.

I really enjoyed the fact that you have a very rich cultural life through translations. I've seen the names of the greatest writers here”, he said.

Fatlum Hetemi, representative of the publishing house “Albas”, says that even this year as other years, they have brought a considerable number of new titles. And he also talked about expectations from the fair.

The publishing house of àbas annually brings many new titles, for children and adults. This year we have over 50 new titles, we have discount prices. The expectations are to have as many visitors and buyers”, he said.

At this ceremony, David Demak, who ordered young people to read and debate books as much as possible, not gossip.

Otherwise, the book fair will remain open until June 9th, and will be open from 9:00 to 8:00.