Press releases

MINSK, 21 February (BelTA) – Ambassadors of 36 countries recited poems by eminent Belarusian poet Yanka Kupala during an event to mark International Mother Language Day and the 135th anniversary of Yanka Kupala’s birth at the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21 February, BelTA has learned.

Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleg Kravchenko noted that it became a good tradition to arrange events to celebrate Yanka Kupala’s art at the ministry. “In the early 20th century, his poems became a symbol of Belarus’ revival and embodiment of the noble idea of national self-determination,” the diplomat said.

“It is a great honor for us to hear the words of the Belarusian poet that reflect the country’s history, our spirit, the Belarusian soul, in the languages of many countries,” Oleg Kravchenko said.

The event brought together representatives of 51 countries. Ambassadors and diplomats of 36 countries recited Yanka Kupala’s poems. Head of the European Union Delegation to Belarus Andrea Wiktorin presented a poem by the Belarusian first people’s poet in English and promised to recite in Belarusian next year.

Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus Gabor Pinter recited the poem “A Khto Tam Idze?” (And, Say, Who Goes There?) The same poem was translated by the cultural department of the Embassy of Iran into Farsi, the 84th language for this Yanka Kupala’s work.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Belarus Peter Dettmar recited Kupala’s “Zhnivo” (Harvest). Yanka Kupala’s art is mentioned in many German handbooks about the Belarusian literature. The Belarusian poet visited Germany in 1925.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Belarus Cui Qiming called the meeting a real celebration. He noted that Yanka Kupala’s art is well known throughout the world, including in China. He recited Kupala’s lines in Chinese.

The Strala folk group of Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts sang Belarusian songs. The Yanka Kupala State Literary Museum organized an exhibition about the life and works of Yanka Kupala.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, together with the Yanka Kupala State Literary Museum.