Greece Ambassador to Azerbaijan Dimitrios G. Tsoungas visited the Azerbaijan Translation Centre at the Cabinet of Ministers (AzTC) February 4 for a roundtable discussion with its Director Afag Masud.

After greeting the Greece diplomat AzTC Director Masud highlighted the history of the Centre, prospects, projects to improve the translation industry, as well as about AzTC’s translation products on Ancient Greek philosophers. “These philosophical works have been published in Khazar World Literary magazine in various years. This year, the Centre has translated “Antigona” by great Greece philosopher and author Sophocles. Presently the book is being prepared for publication. It is also planned to adapt the book for stage at the Azerbaijan National Academic Drama Theatre,” said Afag Masud.

Later on, the Director touched upon amateur translations. “During the meetings with diplomats we find out that examples of foreign literary works are translated into Azerbaijani and of Azerbaijan’s into various languages by translators. It further turns out that these works have been translated into our, or a foreign, language by unprofessional amateurs or under grant projects. As we know literary translation is not only a serious art  phenomena, but also the indicator of moral mentality of the nation. It is necessary to view it through the platform of public interests,” Masud underlined.  

The Director talked about the books published under the title ‘Series of AzTC Books’ and about the successes achieved through international book fairs. “During the 5-month activity AzTC has successfully presented Azerbaijan at the international book fairs in Goteborg, Istanbul, Sharjah and Cairo. We are preparing to participate at the international book fairs to be held soon in Minsk, in April in London and in Turin, in May in Prague, and in July in Tokyo. Last week, AzTC delegation represented our country at the 46th Cairo International Book Fair in Egypt and was selected to be the guest of honour at next year’s Cairo International Book Fair.”  

Later on, Ambassador Tsoungas shared his views: “It is pleasant to note that there is such a translation centre in Azerbaijan. This Centre is everything for me, as I was majoring in Language and Literature. The Greek language forms the core of most European languages, you know. I am proud of it. But it is not sufficient to know Greek only. In Greece, foreign languages have been taught for 60 years. We need to translate the works of classic Greek thinkers into foreign languages, and I believe that the other peoples across the world are interested in this. I am pleased that an Azerbaijani scholar, Ali Sultanli, has researched works by Greek authors and written a valuable book. I sent as a gift that book and “Legends and Myths of Ancient Greece” by Nikolay Kun to our parliamentarians, government officials on Christmas Eve. We want the works by the two Greek Nobel winners - Odysseus Elytis and Giorgos Seferis to be translated into Azerbaijani.”

Ambassador underlined the lack of government-run agency in Greece, similar to Azerbaijan’s Centre for Translation, but added that “instead there are societies of authors, translators.” “I will do my best to help you establish ties with those societies.”

Regarding improvements of translation practice in specific areas, Dimitrios Tsoungas said there are departments to train translators and interpreters on specific areas in Greece. “Moreover, in Greece, even graduates majoring in specific areas shall receive their authorization from a government agency.”

Calling on AzTC to participate in book fairs in Thessaloniki and Athens, the Greek diplomat also wished its participation in an international event on Aristotle heritage to be held in 2016, under the auspices of UNESCO.

“We would also welcome Azerbaijan’s participation in this event as a guest of honour,” the Greek Ambassador added.

At the conclusion of the meeting Ambassador Tsoungas promised to be donating a book of Azerbaijani poems in Greek as well as Greek literary classics books to AzTC.

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