Greetings to the participants of the 19th Minsk International Book Fair

Dear friends,

I want to wish a hearty welcome to the participants of the 19th Minsk International Book Fair.

The Republic of Belarus has proclaimed 2012 the Year of Book, which is set to promote national literature. It is symbolic that this year the 130th birth anniversary of remarkable Belarusian poets Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas is marked. Their works not only glorify our Motherland but also have a great impact on people's souls and minds.

We see how big the interest to the printed word in our country is. I am convinced that this forum will give a new impetus to the development of book printing in Belarus, making Belarusian literature closer to the foreign reader.

Over the years the book fair has become a landmark event in the spiritual life of our country. It can be rightly called a large-scale display of book printing achievements of different countries and an authoritative ground for the exchange of professional experience.

I wish all participants of this forum fruitful work, understanding, inspiration, and optimism.

Aleksandr Lukashenko