Tue 03 November 2009 | 10:11 GMT Text size:

National Literature Award

Projects aimed at the development of Azerbaijani literature deserve praising, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garaev said Tuesday, speaking at the presentation of the National Book Award.

"There is a set of independent publishing and printing houses in Azerbaijan that take part in international exhibitions, worthily representing our country abroad," said Abulfas Garaev.

According to him, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will continue the process of improving the library science. "This is just the beginning of our common work, and this project will be a stimulus for representatives of national literature", he said.

The founder of the National Book Award and director of the "Ali and Nino" publishing house Nigar Kocharli  participating in the presentation noted that the project aims at raising public attention to the Azerbaijani literature, strengthening the social significance of contemporary literature and the publication of works that will enrich the literature.

Stories, novellas and novels in the Azeri language are admitted for participation in the contest. Works may consist of not less than 40 thousand characters, they will be presented by the authors, and this rule is applied to both published and unpublished works.

Works must be submitted no later than 31 December 2009. On January 26, the jury will specify a long-list, consisting of 20 works. A shortlist of 10 will be introduced on 10 February  and 3 winners will be declared on May 1.

A winner of the first prize will receive 3,000 AZN, second – 2,000, and  third - 1,000. The best 10 works will be published and distributed among public libraries and educational centers.

Jurors are the secretary of the Writers' Union Chingiz Abdullayev, Oscar winner and chairman of the Union of Cinematographers Rustam Ibragimbekov, chairman of the Journalists Union Elchin Shihly and others.

Interfax-Azerbaijan