German Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission in Azerbaijan, Wolfgang Mössinger, made a cooperation promoting focused visit to the Translation Centre under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic (AzTC) on 2nd December. 
AzTC Director Afag Masud briefly informed the guest about the newly-established Centre, focusing on the positive impact of inter-literary exchanges on mutual understanding between peoples, the specialness of translation work, as well as literary translation which is a serious phenomenon in the arts. 
Underscoring the significance of boosting exchanges between German and Azerbaijan literatures, the AzTC Director provided the German diplomat with the examples of German literature AzTC has to date translated, as well as future projects. ‘Our Centre seeks to deliver Azerbaijani literature and language to the world in a perfect format and to introduce our National Literature in a manner it preserves on an international scale. Given our Centre is designed to be a  hub for indication and assignment of translation and literary value of works, it is necessary to involve native speakers – past masters in the field of literary translation, poets and novelists,” she said.
Touching upon challenges facing the translation industry, Afag Masud stressed the significance of organizing this process from the education stage, actualizing translation specificity, preventing Azerbaijani language from erosion in the translation and writing process.   
“It is necessary to define and to frame professionalism of local translators and related structures with a view to systematizing the translation industry.”
Wolfgang Mössinger, in turn, praised the creation of the Translation Centre, sharing his opinion about the translation process: ‘We often come across translation errors. To prevent it, you need to mobilize skilled translators. In Germany, all translators must be licensed for translation activities. A licensed translator has own seal, otherwise he/she cannot do official translations. Introduction of this rule by AzTC as state-run entity, would mend these problems.’

Deputy of Mission talked about the possible joint projects between AzTC and Höte Institute and underlined the necessity of joining the annual translation workshops by young Azerbaijani translators.
“Currently there are few professional Azerbaijani language translators in Germany. But there’s Azerbaijan Language and Literature Department at Berlin University. You can contact these specialists, share experiences with, and benefit from them. Literary translation is a complicated and delicate process, and non-professionals can by no means be trusted to do translations. Pathosly speaking, translation is possible to name a part of art and it calls for a creative approach. Therefore, it’s expedient to launch mutual cooperation on books to be translated into both languages. It is my subjective opinion, but I think translation should be done mainly by writers-poets”.
The German diplomat also touched upon the courses for foreign residents organized by AzTC, and welcomed the initiative. “Such courses are in great need. Foreign diplomats, as well as executives and employees of various foreign organizations and companies functioning in Azerbaijan have to address individual tutors or private unqualified courses engaged in teaching Azerbaijani. So, I am glad that you are going to arrange these activities from now on.  We hope that AzTC accomplish numerous worthy projects in the field of language and translation”.

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