Ovsyannikov: Popularity of Minsk' Book Fair proves the nation is spiritually healthy

The popularity of the Minsk International Book Fair speaks about the spiritual health of the Belarusian nation, Director General of the General Directorate for International Book Exhibitions and Fairs (Moscow) Nikolai Ovsyannikov told media at Russia’s national stand of the 20th Minsk International Book Fair.
Nikolai Ovsyannikov was one of the originators of the Minsk International Book Fair: 20 years ago at the book fair in Moscow he voiced his proposal to conduct the similar event in Minsk. “Today the Minsk book fair maintains its prestige. The fact that it arouses such keen interest, especially among young people, proves the nation is spiritually healthy,” Nikolai Ovsyannikov said. “If people buy and read books, this country has the future,” he added.
Russia, as the Guest of Honor of the book forum this year, has prepared an extensive program. The conference hall of the Russian stand hosted a roundtable to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad. Russia also presented the bilingual anthology of the Belarusian poetry from the series “Slavonic Poetry of the 20th-21st Centuries. From Century to Century”, the winner of the Russian national publishing competition Book of the Year 2010 in the nomination “Belye Rosy”.
Russia’s national exposition showcases products of about 200 publishing houses.