Literators and translators from 35 countries meet at international forum in Moscow

The first International Literature Forum organised by the Association of Writers and Publishers Unions of Russia (AWPUR) has ended in the Russian capital. TV BRICS was the international media partner of the event.

The forum was attended by writers, publishers, translators and philologists from 35 countries, including Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Zimbabwe, China, India, the UAE, Serbia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and South Africa.

The programme of the meeting included 16 round tables devoted to the work of unions and associations of authors, the role of writers in public life, preservation of literary heritage, support of creative initiatives. The forum participants did not ignore environmental issues and the role of artificial intelligence in cultural life.

A separate place in the discussion was taken by the topic of translation industry, training of specialists in rare languages and new interpretations of classical works.

"If I am asked whether new translations of Russian classics into Persian are needed, the answer is unequivocally positive. The first translations were done from an intermediary language, which is why, for example, for many years we read 'Leon Tolstoy'. Language changes too, and with it the interest in literary studies grows. Before, there was a Russian language department only at Tehran University, but now Russian translators are trained all over the country," said Iranian translator and teacher Zahra Mohammadi.

In turn, translator and literary scholar Saodat Kamilova from Uzbekistan said that the republic is working to restore the professional skills and experience of specialists in the field of translation into Russian to the level of the USSR times.

"We need to keep in touch and translate each other from all languages. Through the Russian language we acquire at least half a million readers," Abuzar Bagirov, a writer and translator from Azerbaijan, emphasised.

According to the Chairman of AWPUR Sergey Shargunov, the forum hosted a constructive discussion on universal issues and aspects of literary life, relevant for all countries and peoples.

"Representatives of different cultures and traditions need to meet as often as possible. Mutual exchange of creative energies and ideas is very beneficial. The Association of Unions of Writers and Publishers of Russia has such a function from the beginning – unifying, consolidating, but not unifying," said the Chairman of AWPUR, expressing hope that the dialogue will continue on the fields of new international meetings.

Before the closing of the forum there was a literary and musical programme performed by the actors of Pyotr Fomenko Workshop Theatre.

The Association of Unions of Writers and Publishers of Russia was established in 2020 as an association of the largest professional communities: The Union of Writers of Russia, the Union of Russian Writers, the Union of Writers of Moscow, the Union of Writers of St. Petersburg, and the Russian Book Union. AWPUR implements a number of large-scale cultural, educational and social projects aimed at supporting writers and promoting Russian culture and language abroad.

Photo: AWPUR press service