Presidents Danilo Medina and Rafael Correa Inaugurate XVI International Book Fair Santo Domingo 2013

Presidents Danilo Medina and Rafael Correa Inaugurate XVI International Book Fair Santo Domingo 2013
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo 4/22/2013

With a regal ceremony,theXVI International Book Fair Santo Domingo2013 was inaugurated on Monday, chaired by the President of the Republic Danilo Medina, Rafael Correa Delgado and Minister of Culture José Antonio Rodríguez.

Ecuador is the guest of honor at the Fair, which is dedicated to the poetess and narrator Hilma Contreras; in addition it highlight sthe bicentenary of the birth of Juan Pablo Duarte.

Seated at the head tablewasVice President of theRepublicMargaritaCedeño deFernández; wife of the Dominican president Cándida Montilla of Medina; Minister of Culture for Ecuador Erika Sylva Charvét; Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo, and Minister of Education Josefina Pimentel.

Also at the table were Administrative Ministerof the Presidency José Ramón Peralta, Minister of Economic Planning and Development Themistocles Montas, Book Fair Director AmaroValentine, and IBF Executive Director Pedro AntonioValdez.

Ecuador is the guest of honor at the Fair, which is dedicated to the poetess and narrator Hilma Contreras; in addition it highlight sthe bicentenary of the birth of Juan Pablo Duarte.

Song writer José Antonio Rodríguez, in his keynote speech at the event, noted that seated at the main table together were the two most appreciated leaders “of our America.”

He said the fact that PresidentCorreahad been sogenerous as to come to the Dominican Republic was a sign of respectand love for the Dominican people, and he spoke of him as a man who defends his ideas.

“For the Ministry of Culture,hispresencehas special significancebecause culture isone of the pillarsof his government inthis sisternation,” he stressed.

He then addedthattheBook Fairoffers the countrythemost extensive cultural programever andit will show President Correa“how theDominican Republicloves Ecuador.”He was given a standing ovation by theattendees.

Also speakingat the eventwas the Minister of CultureofEcuador, Erika SylvaCharvét, who proclaimed thatthe Book Fairisa venuefor the affirmation ofcultural sovereignty, which is achallengingmission.

Ms. Charvét also mentionedthe contributions ofEcuadorianEloiAlfaroand DominicanMáximo Gómez, who mobilizedin the Andesandin America toput an end to colonialoppression.

The General Directorate of the Book Fair recognized the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) for its project “I invite you to read with me.”

She referred with great interest to the contributions of Dominican Juan Pablo Duarte and Juan Bosch, and finally added that, “the Fair helps streng then dialogue, literature and the deepening ofthe bonds of friendship between the two nations.”

For his part, Pedro AntonioValdez announced that the comprehensive program contains a total of 1,600 activities of all kinds, 215 conferences and lectures, 80 symposia and discussions, 89 book presentations and 50different theatrical spectacles, and that in addition to this there would be 250 national and another 200 international exhibitors.

Immediately after, Cultural Heritage Vice-minister Luis Brea Franco and poe tLeón Félix Batista, event coordinators, delivered the newworks published by the National Publishing House of the Ministry of Culture to Presidents Danilo Medina and Rafael Correa.

Throughout the evening,theDominicanFederationof Municipalities,headed byits president the mayor ofSantoDomingo East,Juan de losSantos, recognized the Ecuadorian Presidentas a distinguished visitorto the country andfor his contributionsto the development ofthe municipalities of his owncountry.

The General Directorate of the Book Fair recognized the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) for its project “I invite you to read with me.” President Medina presented the trophy to Catalina Andújar of the Directorate of Ibero-American States, a branch of the United Nations Organization for Science and Culture.

Also receiving recognition was the poet José Mármol, winner of the National PoetryAward, and theWomen’sBook Fairin NewYorkin the person of Karina Rieque, for having promotedthe world of booksand writing for ten years. Both received recognition from President Medina.

Another special recognition in the evening went tothe Corripio Foundation represented byits president, José L. Corripio, for its major contributions to culture and the creation of spaces for fostering dialogue.

Finally, those present enjoyed as how directed by Aidita Selman in the Carlos Piantini Hall of the Eduardo Brito National Theatre.