Nagorno-Karabakh hosts presentation of literary almanac "Southern Caucasus"

On March 21, the city of Stepanakert hosted a presentation of the second issue of the literary almanac "Southern Caucasus", which included the works of writers and poets from Georgia, Azerbaijan, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia, and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Such cultural projects are gaining momentum, since thanks to them European partners also come to understand where to start to build peace. This was stated at the presentation by Zhanna Krikorova, the member of the editorial board of the almanac, Director of the NGO "Centre for International Cooperation".

The book combined five national literatures of Southern Caucasus. This was highlighted during the presentation by Nadezhda Venediktova, the literary editor of the almanac.

"The first issue contained a lot of painful things – the war and tragedy. The second issue already includes not so many painful things, and it is more focused on the internal problems of peaceful nature," said the editor.

According to her, the almanac allows readers and writers themselves to understand what is happening in neighbouring countries and to gain a sense of cultural involvement, lost during the last 20 years.

According to Beso Khvadelidze, Georgian writer and journalist, the project represents a very good idea, and it should continue. "We need also the tenth and the twentieth numbers of the almanac. I am pleased to take part in such regional projects," stated Beso Khvadelidze.

According to Irina Grigoryan, Chairperson of the Karabakh NGO "Institute for Public Diplomacy", such creative projects offer an opportunity for dialogue between the peoples of the Caucasus. According to her, every person should make every effort to keep the peace in the region, and, perhaps, persons of art will start this work.

The second issue of the almanac includes stories and poems of 21 authors of Southern Caucasus, including the works of six photographers. Nagorno-Karabakh is represented in the almanac by works of writer Gamlet Martirosyan and poet Robert Yesayan translated by Karabakh writer Ashot Beglaryan and by the works of young photographer Arevik Danielyan.

In Nagorno-Karabakh, the 278-page almanac was published in 200 copies.