Republika Srpska will present its publishers, literary works and writers at the International Belgrade Book Fair from October 23 to 31, showcasing 106 publications from 34 publishers under the slogan “To exist. To carry an identity,” Mlađen Cicović, head of the Republika Srpska Representative Office in Serbia, told Srna.
According to Cicović, Republika Srpska’s 16th official appearance at the fair, organized by its Representative Office in Serbia, will be dedicated to marking the 65th anniversary of Ivo Andrić receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature.
He explained that this year’s slogan was taken from Andrić’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech because it best reflects the message the Representative Office wishes to convey through its participation.
“For us, the Belgrade Book Fair is not merely an opportunity to present books published in Republika Srpska, but also a place where we can demonstrate who we are, what we create and what we preserve,” Cicović emphasized.
He noted that as many as 144 authors, scientists, writers, professors and other participants will take part in the presentations, offering a diverse overview of Republika Srpska’s literary, scientific, educational and cultural life, with particular emphasis on the work of its leading scientific and educational institutions.
Cicović said that, in the year marking 65 years since Andrić received the Nobel Prize, the Representative Office wants to demonstrate that Republika Srpska continues to maintain a vibrant literary, scientific and cultural output, supported by institutions systematically working to preserve and develop it.
“Through his work, Andrić reminds us that it is possible to be deeply rooted in one’s own language, culture and history while simultaneously being part of world culture. That is precisely what we want to demonstrate through Republika Srpska’s participation in Belgrade,” Cicović said.
He added that to exist means to carry one’s identity, and books are among the most powerful means of preserving that identity and passing it on to future generations.
The Academy of Sciences and Arts of Republika Srpska (ANURS) will present, among other publications, the seventh volume of the Encyclopedia of Republika Srpska, along with important works in the natural and social sciences, philosophy and history.
The University of Banja Luka will showcase publications marking its 50-year history and celebrating the city on the Vrbas River, while faculties of the University of East Sarajevo will present numerous scientific, professional and historiographical publications.
The Institute for Textbooks and Teaching Aids in East Novo Sarajevo, whose role extends far beyond publishing and which represents one of the key pillars in preserving the Serbian language and Cyrillic script in education, will present several award-winning novels recognized with the Golden Owl literary prize, including “Gospođa Mara,” “Očišćenje od grijeha” and “Život u slikama.”
Publications preserving important Serbian historical records and cultural memory will also be showcased, ranging from “Serbian Manuscripts and Early Printed Books of the Church of the Assumption in Čajniče” and the photographic monograph “Donja Gradina Memorial Site” to works dedicated to the suffering of the Serb people and the history of Republika Srpska.
The Institute of Historical Sciences at the University of East Sarajevo will present significant historiographical publications, including documents concerning the genocide against Serbs in BiH during the Second World War and works devoted to the history of Republika Srpska.
Other participating institutions include the Museum of Republika Srpska, the National and University Library of Republika Srpska, the Donja Gradina Memorial Site, regional museums and libraries, the Association of Writers of Republika Srpska and numerous cultural organizations.
The program will also feature contemporary literature, scientific papers, monographs, historical accounts, collected works, journals and publications dedicated to preserving local and regional heritage.
The International Belgrade Book Fair, one of the most important literary events in this part of Europe, will take place from October 23 to 31 under the slogan “Words Build the World,” with Tunisia serving as the guest of honor at its 69th edition.
Source: RTRS
