Antelias: Third Pan-Armenian Writers’ Conference Concludes

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

Watch the recorded video of the message of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of Cilicia here:

TH E THIRD PAN-ARMENIAN WRITERS’ CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
ITS SESSIONS IN ANTELIAS

Inaugurated in the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia for
the first time on April 6, the Third Pan-Armenian Writers’ Conference
concluded its sessions on April 8. The official closing ceremony of the
conference will be held on the evening of Palm Sunday on April 9 under the
patronage of His Holiness Aram I, who will also deliver his Pontifical
speech on this occasion.

The April 6 sessions were dedicated to a single theme entitled “Modern
children’s literature and national schools”. Two expert presentations were
delivered on this topic by Eduard Milidonian from Armenia and Krikor
Shahinian from Lebanon consecutively.

Poet and lecturer Eduard Milidonian spoke about modern children’s literature
and textbooks in Armenia. He pointed out that the textbooks include the
works of contemporary writers, expressing concern about the presence of low
quality poetry in them. He proposed including writers in the preparation of
textbooks and talked about the importance of government support for the
publication of the works of contemporary children’s writers.

Krikor Shahinian spoke about the children’s books published in the Diaspora
both by individual efforts of by various publishing houses. He talked about
the advantages and disadvantages of each type of venture and mentioned the
electronic versions of such books, the Eastern to Western Armenian
transformations and special adaptations in language as new aspects of
children’s literature in the Diaspora.

Talking about future perspectives, Shahinian proposed setting up literary
groups in the densely Armenian-populated centers of the Diaspora and
organizing periodical meetings during which the members of the groups would
acquaint themselves with the international masterpieces of children’s
literature, read them and examine their own works. He also proposed
establishing a scholarship for children’s writers with good knowledge of the
Armenian language and artistic talent.

Arevshad Avakian (Armenia) and Torkom Postadjian (the United States) chaired
the sessions during which discussions and viewpoints were exchanged.

The next session was dedicated to proposals about the Fourth Pan-Armenian
Writer’s Conference. Under the chairmanship of Norayr Atalian from Armenia
and Markar Sharabkhian from Canada the participant Armenian writers made
various proposals the focus of which was the importance of contact between
Armenian writers around the globe. The idea of establishing a website for
this purpose was proposed. Other suggestions were made on the organization
of the printing press.

The ninth session was dedicated to the concerns and difficulties of Armenian
writers. Seiran Krikorian from Armenia and Jirayr Tanielian from Lebanon
chaired the session during which various suggestions were made particularly
for coordinating the intellectual activities in Armenia and the Diaspora.

The official press release of the conference was read during the last
session which was chaired by Henrig Pakhchinian from Armenia and Hagop
Balian from France.

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View photo here:
es38.htm#2

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

http://www.cathcil.org/
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/video.htm
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictur
http://www.cathcil.org/