SRPSKA'S PRESENTATION FORMALLY UNVEILED, NUMEROUS PUBLISHERS BEFORE PUBLIC

BELGRADE, OCTOBER 26 /SRNA/ - The slogan "To Exist. To Carry Identity" of this year's presentation of Republika Srpska at the International Belgrade Book Fair expresses the essence of Srpska's attitude towards culture and heritage, Minister of Education and Culture Borivoje Golubović said at the formal unveiling of Srpska's presentation, which this year marks 65 years since Ivo Andrić was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

"To exist means to have one's own memory, language, creativity and tradition, and to carry identity means to preserve what we have inherited and enrich it with new works," Golubović said, stressing that the book is one of the most important guardians of that heritage.

He added that Ivo Andrić, whose words these are, grew out of the local cultural space and became part of the world’s literary heritage.

Golubović said it is an exceptional honor that Republika Srpska is once again presenting its publishers and writers at this prestigious event, seeking to bring its cultural heritage and contemporary literary production closer to the public.

He reminded that Republika Srpska's cultural heritage has been shaped by the works of many writers and creators who left a deep mark on Serbian literature, such as Filip Višnjić, Petar Kočić, Jovan Dučić, Aleksa Šantić and today's contemporary authors.

"It is our duty to nurture, preserve and present their work, as well as to support young generations of writers and publishers. The Government of Republika Srpska and our Ministry will continue to support local writers, publishers and cultural institutions, as well as activities that contribute to the affirmation of our literature and cultural creativity," Golubović said.

Golubović stressed that support for literature and publishing is not only support for the arts, but an investment in education, spiritual development and the future of society.

Head of the Republika Srpska Representative Office, which organized the presentation, Mlađen Cicović said the slogan "To Exist. To Carry Identity", taken from words Ivo Andrić spoke when he received the Nobel Prize, carries a great deal of meaning and responsibility.

"To exist does not only mean to be present, but to have one's own voice. To carry identity means to preserve that voice, make it recognizable and leave it as a legacy to those who come after us," Cicović said.

He stressed that identity is not an obstacle to openness towards the world, but a foundation from which we can get to know others and present our own culture with dignity.

Professor Miloš Kovačević said that if it were up to him, every year would be dedicated to Ivo Andrić, especially when it comes to the Book Fair, because, as he put it, the pinnacle of Vuk Stefanović Karadžić's language and style is found precisely in Andrić's works.

"Andrić is simply a man who managed to write in such a way that it seems to all of us that we could write like that, and he had the motto that the hardest thing is to write simply. His sentence is not actually simple. It is woven into the fabric of the Serbian folk sentence," Kovačević said, adding that this refined literary prose sentence remains an ideal for all who write.

He said that when Andrić was asked where he learned his language and style, he said there were only three sources for it: Karadžić, Njegoš and Serbian folk poems.

"When you look at what actually underlies Andrić's language and style, you will see that in Europe and the world we are recognized only by this - by Serbian folk poems, by Vuk Karadžić, by Njegoš. All of that is in Andrić. When you take, for example, 'Signs by the Roadside', you will see Njegoš in a different way," Kovačević said.

In the coming days, the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Republika Srpska, the universities of Banja Luka and Istočno Sarajevo, the Institute for Textbooks and Teaching Aids, the Museum of Republika Srpska, the National and University Library of Republika Srpska, the Writers' Association of Srpska, and other institutions, organizations and publishers will present their publications to the fair's audience in Belgrade.