Albania joins TRADUKI literature network

TIRANA, Jan. 21 – Albania has officially joined TRADUKI, the European network for literature and books which includes Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
The exchange between the participants is to be advanced through a translation program for fiction, the humanities as well as books for children and young people. The program gives a special focus to the translators, whose work as important cultural mediators has given the project its name. Meetings of authors, translators, publishers, librarians, critics and scientists strengthen the exchange of information and foster the cooperation.
The deal which makes Albania a full TRADUKI member was signed this week in Tirana by Albanian Culture Minister Mirela Kumbaro and Antje Contius, the head of TRADUKI.
The signing of this deal makes Albania part of joint projects and programmes in cooperation with important European partner institutions and organization and represent it in the TRADUKI Board of Directors with a right to vote.
Through this project Albania is no longer only part of applicants on cultural projects but also a partner and contributor to TRADUKI’s cultural policy and the integration of this cultural product in the European culture, said the culture ministry.
“The relationship with TRADUKI as one of the most active and influential networks in the European letters is taking a new dimension, that of institutional entry,” said Culture Minister Mirela Kumbaro.
Antje Contius described Albania’s membership as an important step which brings Albania closer to the region and Europe in the spirit of opening up and the new philosophy of cooperation with partners in the field of letters.