The 34th Havana International Book Fair drew to a close this Sunday in the Cuban capital, bringing together participants from 33 countries across all continents and reaffirming the commitment of Cuba and its international allies to this major literary gathering.
Hosting the fair despite the complex challenges facing the nation "is a demonstration of what the Cuban people can achieve and proves that unity provides the strength to keep moving forward," Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman stated in an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina.
"The success belongs to the Cuban people and the Revolution," she added, highlighting the collaborative efforts of various institutions and organizations, alongside the presence of international allies and the Russian Federation, this year's Guest of Honor.
The Nicolás Guillén Hall at the Línea y 18 Cultural Center served as the venue for a ceremony honoring those who made the event possible. The fair now embarks on its nationwide tour across the remaining provinces, concluding on September 6 in Santiago de Cuba.
During the evening event, the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Russian Embassy, Sergey Parkhomenko, underscored the Eurasian nation’s diverse cultural offerings and the honor of serving as Guest of Honor.
"We made every effort to showcase our nation’s multifaceted culture," he stated, noting that these achievements would not have been possible without the unwavering support of "our Cuban friends."
Enhanced by a performance by Russian violinist Petr Lundstrem, the ceremony paid tribute to Cuban institutions and publishing houses for their outstanding participation and management during the fair.
The Grand Prize for Social Communication, awarded by the Cuban Association of Social Communicators, went to Editorial Letras Cubanas. Meanwhile, entities including Ediciones ICAIC and Editorial Gente Nueva (Children's Pavilion) were recognized across categories such as Graphic Design, Audiovisual, Digital Media, and Public Relations.
In the presence of Cuban Minister of Culture Alpidio Alonso and other dignitaries, special recognition was extended to the Russian Federation, the Communications Directorate of the Cuban Book Institute (ICL), the Línea y 18 Cultural Center, the Fidel Castro Ruz Center, and the Nuestra Historia Cultural Project, among many others.
According to ICL President Juan Rodríguez, the complex national circumstances—compounded by the U.S. blockade—failed to prevent the staging of the fair, which was dedicated to Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, described as "its most steadfast champion."
"We interpret this broad international participation as a testament of solidarity with our country," Rodríguez expressed, adding that the event serves to "keep these bridges of solidarity and brotherhood actively alive."
(Taken from Prensa Latina)
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