On December 8, the Písecká Brána Gallery of Prague hosted a literary-musical event dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide entitled “Topic of the Armenian Genocide in Czech Books Published in 2015”. The event was organized by Orer independent European magazine and the Embassy of Armenia in the Czech Republic, as reports the RA MFA press service.

In his opening remarks, editor-in-chief of Orer magazine Hakob Asatryan presented the Czech versions of three books published this year, including the novel “Forty Days of Musa Dagh” by great Austrian writer Franz Werfel, who was born in Prague, the novel “Book of Whispers” by Romanian-Armenian writer and political figure Varujan Vosganian and the special issue of “Plav” literary magazine devoted to the Armenian Genocide and Armenian literature.

Afterwards, RA Ambassador to the Czech Republic Tigran Seyranyan gave a speech in which he recapped the events that had been held in commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide in the Czech Republic. The ambassador mentioned that the topic of the Armenian Genocide is always a current topic and that other events would be organized next year. The Armenian diplomat attached special importance to the participation of a high-ranking Czech delegation in the events held in Yerevan on April 24^th and the April 14 adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament. The ambassador also praised the books that had been published, the special issue of “Plav” magazine and commended the representatives of the publishing houses.

The event also included a speech by editor of Vishehrad Publishing House Philip Outratan, who presented the new publication of Franz Werfel’s novel eternalizing the endeavors of the Armenians of Musa Dagh, as well as the Czech version of the novel “Book of Whispers” by First Vice-President of the Union of Writers of Romania and Senator Varujan Vosganian. The book was translated by Jarmila Horakova.

The special issue of “Plav” literary magazine is entirely devoted to the Armenian Genocide and Armenian literature. It was presented by editor of the special issue Pavla Nehasilova, who emphasized that the magazine presents the Czech versions of the works of contemporary Armenian writers Vahagn Grigoryan, Armen Shekoyan, Anahit Topchyan and Alexander Topchyan and the works of classic Armenian writers. For instance, the magazine includes an excerpt from Grigor Narekatsi’s poem “Book of Tragedies”, as well as the works of Hovhannes Tumanyan and other Armenian writers.