GREEK POET ANTONIS D. SKIATHAS PRESENTED WITH OPEN BOOK AWARD

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 2 /SRNA/ – Greek poet Antonis D. Skiathas, from the city of Patras, is this year’s recipient of the International Literary Award “Open Book”, which was presented to him today at a ceremony in Banja Luka.

Ranko Pavlović, a member of the award jury, said that Skiathas had been recognised because his poetry, like that of every poet, engages in a dialogue with himself, but even more significantly, he engages in a dialogue with the world and his predecessors – some of Greece's most distinguished poets.

"Through this dialogue, he is highly engaged with the world in which we live. His poetry strikes directly at the heart of contemporary developments, while at the same time remaining timeless. In this respect, he nurtures what the most prominent Greek poets, from Antiquity to the present day, left to us," Pavlović told the press in Banja Luka.

Skiathas said he was deeply moved by the decision to award him, as the award came from a city and a country whose people had received assistance from the Greek nation during the difficult times they experienced while he was a student.

"This award is particularly meaningful to me because it recognises poetry, which carries great significance. The word `poetry` dates back to the time of Homer and, to this day, continues to convey messages of peace, love and friendship among nations, and above all, humans’ aspiration towards the divine," Skiathas said.

The ceremony in Banja Luka was also attended by the Ambassador of Greece to BiH, Ioanna Efthymiadou.

The International Literary Meetings opened last night at the National and University Library of Republika Srpska in Banja Luka. Until November 4, the programme will include presentations by poets from abroad, showcases of Serbian poetry and poetry from Republika Srpska, as well as presentations by authors whose books have been published in Hungarian.