Chargé d'Affaires of Colombia Assad Jose Jater Pena on Tuesday visited the Translation Centre under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic (AzTC).   After greeting the Colombian diplomat AzTC Director Afag Masud highlighted the history of the Centre, activities within its new status, approved in accordance with the Presidential Decree dated May 16, 2014, expansion of the scope of activities, and reforms within language and translation areas, as well as future plans.

 AzTC’s catalogue of publications, as well as the book by Gabriel García Márquez published in the Azerbaijani language were presented to Mr.Assad Jose: “This edition with already yellowish pages was published in 1996 and it is his first translated book that introduces Marquez to Azerbaijani readers in the Azerbaijani language. This book, as well as hundreds of works by other authors from world literature have been translated and published through the Centre’s own resources, through demonstrating self-dedication to, and declaring for literature,” Masud said.

The Director went on saying: “The Centre that had introduced works by leading authors of world literature to Azerbaijan for many years, is currently set to promote national literature worldwide, through launching and fostering collaboration with international organizations. We are currently translating into several foreign languages, and to be published in foreign countries, Modern Azerbaijani Anthology of Poetry, a two-volume edition that we have compiled lately. And it is also important to translate this book into Spanish, one of the world's leading languages, by involving in this process native speakers, experienced translators, writers, and poets. 

Mr Assad Jose, who is attending the AzTC – launched Azerbaijani language courses, in his turn, praised the work done by the AzTC, as well as its initiatives in respect of literature and literary translation, stressing that as a Colombian, “he feels pride in Marquez’s popularity on Earth.” The Colombian diplomat emphasized the role of translation and literary ties in strengthening Azerbaijan-Colombian relations, and suggested publication of an anthology of Azerbaijani and Columbian poetry.

“We have prepared such an anthology in tandem with Arabic countries. Such publications, as well as literary exchanges as a whole, play an important role in bringing together peoples and countries. We will give you all possible assistance in translating into Spanish examples of Azerbaijan literature and popularizing them in Colombia, as well as teaching Spanish in Azerbaijan. Colombia often holds festivals of world poetry. We would like to see there poets from Azerbaijan,” he added.

At the conclusion of the meeting Chargé d'Affaires Jose was presented as gifts a set of books and a translated collection of works by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in Azerbaijani, published by the Translation Centre.

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