Targeted News Service
October 24, 2014 Friday 11:46 PM EST

U.S. Embassy Hosts Renowned American Writers

YEREVAN, Armenia

The U.S. Embassy issued the following news release:

On October 21-23, the U.S. Embassy, in partnership with the Armenian
Literature Foundation, will host American writers from the
International Writing Program (IWP) at the University of Iowa, USA.
Guests include renowned American writers – Peter Balakian, Gish Jen,
Gregory Orfalea, Mary Hickman, and Christopher Merrill. The goal of
the program is to engage young writers in Armenia by offering them new
skills and knowledge in writing fiction and poetry, encourage dialogue
and collaboration between writers and teachers in the U.S. and
Armenia, and create opportunities for colleagues and students to meet
with distinguished representatives of the American literary scene.

The Armenia tour will include selection of participants for an
Armenian-Turkish writing residency program at the University of Iowa
in summer 2015.

Every year, in partnership with the U.S. State Department and the IWP
based at the University of Iowa, reading tours are organized that
include American writers to countries and regions of strategic
interest to the United States. Writing is an important medium for
promoting free speech and strengthening democracy in countries
worldwide.

For more information about the IWP program, visit

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress