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Literary Conference draws authors from Armenia and Diaspora

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  • Literary Conference draws authors from Armenia and Diaspora

    Armenia Now
    July 2, 2004

    Writers' Bloc: Writers' Bloc: Literary Conference draws authors from Armenia
    and Diaspora

    By Lusineh Ohanyan
    ArmeniaNow correspondent More than 60 authors from 18 countries gathered in
    Yerevan this week for the second All-Armenian Conference of Writers.

    Organised by Armenia's Union of Writers, the conference brought together
    figures from the Republic and Diaspora to discuss developments in Armenian
    literature. Levon Ananyan, President of the Union, says the first conference
    in 2002 was more introductory in character since Armenian writers in
    different countries had had little previous opportunity to make personal
    contact.

    This time, many young representatives of literature from the Diaspora
    attended the event. Plenary sessions covered subjects including: "Latest
    achievements of Armenian literature", "The national school and national
    literature"; and "Historical memory and modern literature".

    The conference also marked two important occasions, the 70th anniversary of
    the Writers Union and the 80th anniversary of the birth of the Diaspora
    writer Zahrat from Constantinople. Participants traveled to Artsakh for two
    days for meetings with representatives of the intelligentsia and army.

    They will also take part in an event dedicated to 150th anniversary of the
    great Armenian writer Muratsan. Political discussion was not on the agenda,
    however, even though many of today's Diaspora writers are public and party
    figures.

    The first conference agreed three measures towards greater unity of literary
    organizations of the Diaspora. A constituent conference of the Armenian
    Writers of California was organized in Los Angeles, USA. Then a conference
    bringing together writers from the Middle East was held in Beirut, Lebanon.
    Finally, a delegation from the Writers' Union led by Ananyan and Ruben
    Hovsepyan, a National Assembly deputy, organized a recent conference of
    Armenian writers from Iran.

    Ananyan says that, besides literary bridges, the conference also established
    an All-Armenian Literary Fund to provide support for publishing books and
    developing Armenian literature. A telethon organized in Armenia has
    collected about $200,000 and further collections are being arranged in
    Atsakh and Diaspora communities.

    The third All-Armenian Conference of Writers is already being planned. It
    will likely be held in two years' time in one of the Diaspora Communities.
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