500 Years of Belarusian Book Printing

MINSK, 26 December (BelTA) - A collection of facsimile books of Belarusian first book printer Francysk Skaryna was donated to the Library of the First President of Kazakhstan in a ceremony in Astana on 26 December, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Embassy in Kazakhstan.

During the ceremony in the Nazarbayev Center Deputy Director of the Library of the First President of Kazakhstan Amirkhan Rahimzhanov stressed that “the facsimile reprints of the works of the Belarusian first printer is a truly invaluable gift that characterizes vividely the all-round cooperation and understanding between the two countries and peoples”.

Belarusian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Anatoly Nichkasov spoke about the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Belarusian and Eastern Slavic book printing. He highlighted the role of the National Library of Belarus in the cultural and educational activities and development of the national language, arrangement of the commemorative events. The diplomat informed the guests of the ceremony about the development of bilateral cultural cooperation between Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The event was organized by the embassy together with the Library and Museum of the First President of Kazakhstan and was timed to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Kazakhstan. The collection of books was provided by the National Library of Belarus. The ceremony was attended by the heads of the diplomatic missions of foreign states accredited in Kazakhstan, bibliographers, and representatives of the business community, the intellectuals, the Belarusian diaspora, students, and journalists.

The handover of Francysk Skaryna’s facsimile books is the second project implemented this year by the Belarusian Embassy and the Library and Museum of the First President of Kazakhstan. In November, the museum hosted the exhibition “The Palace and Park at Nesvizh is part of the world cultural heritage.”