Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 9 November (BelTA) – The 500^th anniversary of book printing in Belarus and the 1155^th anniversary of Polotsk will be the major events of Belarusian Language Day in 2017, Belarus’ Information Minister Lilia Ananich said at the session of the national organizing committee of Belarusian Language Day in Polotsk, BelTA has learned.

Besides, the year 2017 will mark the 135^th anniversary of the birth of such giants of the Belarusian literature as Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas, the anniversaries of Belarusian authors Tishka Gartny, Ales Garun, Yanka Bryl, Pimen Panchenko, and others.

Lilia Ananich added that the Information Ministry has already started to work out the plan of anniversary events. The preparations for the landmark anniversary were included in the concepts of the biggest cultural and information events such as the Minsk International Book Fair, Belarusian Language Day in Rogachev, the Belarusian festival Kupalye (Alexandria Gathers Friends).

Belarusian publishing houses will issue a number of books dedicated to the 500^th anniversary of book printing in Belarus in 2016-2017. Major events will be held as part of international and national exhibitions and fairs next year. Mass media outlets are working on corresponding projects.

Various agencies have been involved in the preparations for the celebration of the 500^th anniversary of book printing in Belarus in 2017. Oblast executive committees and the Minsk City Hall, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Education Ministry, and the Culture Ministry supported the initiative of the Information Ministry and submitted corresponding proposals, the minister added.