World Book Capital
Yerevan named World Book Capital, 2012
02.07.2010 - UNESCOPRESS
The city of Yerevan (Armenia) was named as the World Book Capital 2012 at the conclusion of the meeting of the selection committee, which was held at UNESCO Headquarters on 2 July. The committee consists of representatives from the three main international professional associations in the book industry and UNESCO.
Yerevan is the twelfth city to be designated World Book Capital after Madrid (2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Antwerp (2004), Montreal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogota (2007), Amsterdam (2008), Beirut (2009), Ljubljana (2010) and Buenos Aires (2011).
The city of Yerevan was chosen for the quality and variety of its programme, which is “very detailed, realistic and rooted in the social fabric of the city, focused on the universal and involving all the stakeholders involved in the book industry”, according to the members of the selection committee.
“I congratulate the city of Yerevan, which has presented a particularly interesting programme with many different themes, including the freedom of expression, as well as several activities for children, who will be the readers and authors of tomorrow”, said Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO. “Mobilizing the entire world of books and reading, from authors to printers and publishers, will undoubtedly help to make the Yerevan programme a major success, with a sustainable impact,” she added.
Every year, UNESCO and the three major international professional organizations from the world of books - the International Publishers Association (IPA), the International Booksellers Federation (IBF) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) - designate a city as World Book Capital for one year, between two consecutive celebrations of World Book and Copyright Day (23 April). This initiative is a collaborative effort between representatives of the main stakeholders in the book industry, as well as a commitment by cities to promote books and reading.
Yerevan is World Book Capital in 2012
Tue, Jul 6 2010
Yerevan Named World Book Capital 2012 by UN Cultural Agency
By: Weekly Staff
NEW YORK—The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has chosen the Armenian city of Yerevan as the 2012 World Book Capital as part of its ongoing efforts to promote books and reading.
Armenia’s capital and largest city was chosen for the quality and variety of the program it presented to the selection committee, which met at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris on July 2.
The selection committee brings together representatives of UNESCO and some of the main professional associations in the book industry—the International Publishers Association, the International Booksellers Federation, and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
“I congratulate the city of Yerevan, which has presented a particularly interesting program with many different themes, including the freedom of expression, as well as several activities for children, who will be the readers and authors of tomorrow,” said UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova.
“Mobilizing the entire world of books and reading, from authors to printers and publishers, will undoubtedly help to make the Yerevan program a major success, with a sustainable impact,” she added.
The city chosen as World Book Capital holds the distinction for one year, beginning on World Book and Copyright Day, which is observed on April 23.
Yerevan is the 12th city to be designated World Book Capital, after Madrid (2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Antwerp (2004), Montreal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogotá (2007), Amsterdam (2008), Beirut (2009), Ljubljana (2010), and Buenos Aires (2011).