On February 18, Khnko Apor National Children’s Library hosted the solemn opening ceremony of the 13^th Yerevan Children’s Book Exhibition-Sale. The event was organized by Khnko Apor National Children’s Library and the Armenian Association of Publishers and held with the support of the RA Ministries of Diaspora and Culture.

Among the participants of the event were RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan, RA Deputy Minister of Culture Nerses Ter-Vardanyan, President of the Union of Writers of Armenia Eduard Militonyan, writers Razmik Davoyan and Liparit Sargsyan, other writers, as well as artists and schoolchildren.

In her opening remarks, Director of Khnko Apor National Children’s Library Ruzan Tonoyan expressed gratitude to all the supporters and stated that this exhibition was special in that the Ministry of Diaspora had joined the initiative and that it was organized as part of the weeklong events dedicated to the mother language.

In her welcoming remarks, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan attached importance to literature and similar initiatives that help present spiritual values, make children want to read and connect them to their national roots. “I am glad that writers, readers and publishers have gathered at Khnko Apor National Children’s Library. You all know that the UNESCO has declared February 21^st as International Mother Language Day, and this day is also marked on the Armenian national holiday calendar. The Ministry of Diaspora has declared the week of 18-24 February as Mother Language Week, which will feature several events devoted to the mother language. I congratulate everyone and invite you all to participate in the events. I am certain that our generations will preserve the mother language as a supreme value and as sanctity, as well as enrich it by reading and becoming familiar with the books by Armenian writers and transmit them to the generations,”  the Minister particularly said.

Among other speakers were RA Deputy Minister of Culture Nerses Ter-Vardanyan, President of the Union of Writers of Armenia Eduard Militonyan, poet Razmik Davoyan, Cultural Advisor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Armenia and Director of the Cultural Center Majid Melki, children’s writer Liparit Sargsyan and Deputy of the National Assembly Naira Zohrabyan.

Armenia’s well-known publishers presented their splendid publications at the event.