Romania will present its literature and culture as Guest of Honour at the 80th edition of the Frankfurt International Book Fair (11-15 October 2028), following the signing on Friday at the Ministry of Culture of the official agreement establishing this status.

The document was signed by Minister of Culture Andras Istvan Demeter and President and CEO of the Frankfurt International Book Fair Juergen Boos.

President and CEO of the Frankfurt International Book Fair/Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH Juergen Boos said that Romania will truly be in the spotlight as Guest of Honour at the 2028 edition of the book fair.

According to Boos, this day has a very special symbolic significance. One hundred and forty-five years ago, diplomatic relations were established between Romania and Germany. Since then, close cultural ties have grown through literature, through translations, through vibrant exchanges. Today we continue to write a story together. Classical literature has long been present in Europe, supported by a strong contemporary literature, Juergen Boos added.

He brought to mind the links with the German-speaking world that have grown over the decades, mentioning writer Herta Muller, the contribution of German and Hungarian communities, as well as literature from the Republic of Moldova and other cultural spaces.

The CEO pointed out that preparations for 2028 will be a joint process over the next three years.

New translations will be produced, publishers will travel and establish new contacts, and German-Romanian projects will be carried out step by step. Romanian literature will become even more visible in Germany and internationally, Juergen Boos added.

In turn, Minister of Culture Demeter Andras said that 'for the Ministry of Culture, this project represents a major opportunity to strengthen the image of Romanian literature and make it visible worldwide.'

'As we well know, the Frankfurt Book Fair is the most important event of its kind in the world, and at the same time a space where directions are shaped, lasting connections are created and the international circulation of ideas is decided. Romania comes to Frankfurt with clear arguments. We are the sixth most populous country in the European Union, with a growing economy and a government that shares European values. At the same time, we are a point of stability and dialogue in a region marked by political tensions. This reality is also reflected in our culture, in our literature, in the way we tell our stories. We believe that the public in Frankfurt will have the opportunity to discover a culture and a country on the border of the European Union about which, for a long time, too little has been known. Romanian literature, history, traditions, recent memory and contemporary themes can build a relevant and authentic discourse for the European public,' the minister said.

Demeter Andras underlined that Romanian and international institutions can support a coherent effort to translate Romanian literature into German and other widely spoken languages, as well as develop dedicated programmes and special translation support sessions.

He highlighted multiculturalism as an 'asset' of Romania's presence at the Frankfurt Fair, mentioning German and Hungarian literature and that of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the fact that in recent years national stands organised by the Ministry of Culture have become spaces for regional cooperation, where authors and publishers from Central and South-Eastern Europe - Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the countries of the former Yugoslavia - have built joint projects.

At the same time, the minister showed that Romania will also present other cultural areas in which Romanian artists have distinguished themselves internationally: cinema, theatre, contemporary dance, music and visual arts, as well as natural heritage, eco-tourism and gastronomy, which can offer the German and international public authentic cultural experiences.

'We are not starting from scratch. In 2018, Romania was Guest of Honour at the Leipzig Book Fair, and the programme organised by the Ministry of Culture was regarded as a success by the hosts and the German press. The experience gained then is a solid starting point. Today, looking ahead to 2028, we assume this responsibility with seriousness, openness and respect for our partners. I thank the Frankfurt International Book Fair for its trust and for this partnership which officially begins today. Romania comes to Frankfurt with a living, complex culture open to dialogue. And that is, ultimately, the strongest argument,' the minister of Culture concluded. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)

Photos: (c) GRIGORE POPESCU / AGERPRES FOTO