Friday, 4 July 2014
Dear Mr Militonyan,
Dear Members of the Writers’ Union,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and myself, I warmly congratulate you on the Writers’ Union founding 80th anniversary.
This jubilee is a milestone in the social and cultural life of Armenia. The Union has played an invaluable role in our spiritual development, the promotion of ethnic traditions and the creation of a patriotic ideology. Your creative path was not an easy one, but our writers have managed to keep their stance of an intellectual dedicated homeland.
Every era produces its own heroes and patriots. It is not accidental that in such a difficult period as the 30s of the past century, the Union was being founded through the efforts of Yeghishe Charents, Axel Bakunts, Avetik Isahakyan, Derenik Demirchyan and others.
The next generation of writers built on their creative traditions both in the Soviet times and after independence. I am grateful to you for consistency in the pursuit of those rich traditions.
Our literature and the country, as a whole, appear to be in quite a new situation, facing problems and challenges that are both of old and new: old, because literature has always focused on the inner man - his sufferings and hopes; new, because globalization has changed our perceptions and understandings. Your task is to artistically reflect those new conditions and the reality, prioritizing Homeland’s and its citizens’ interests. I am convinced that, strong with great creative potential in the face of today’s poets and prose writers, the Union will live up to the task.
I am confident that despite the unprecedented advance in new technologies and electronic media, the printed book will always remain a loyal companion, contributing to the reader’s intellectual and spiritual development, as well as to the emergence of a generation of dignified citizens.
Dear writers, congratulating you once again on this important jubilee, I wish you good health and new creative achievements.
As the head of the new government, I want to assure all of you that the government will stand by the writers. The matter has been repeatedly taken up with President of the Writers’ Union, and we will take all possible practical steps to support the Union.
Thank you.
