Paris book fair chief admires massive public participation at TIBF

1394/02/21-11:43

Manager of the Paris book fair, Bertrand Morisset says Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF) stands as a model in terms of how to absorb and motivate a cultural audience.

Morisset made the remarks in a meeting with the TIBF President, Seyyed Abbas Salehi on Sunday, according to the TIBF press office.

The French cultural authority talked of an existing bond of friendship between the Iranian and French people, adding neither politics nor business would matter for the people rather they put culture top on their agenda when they come to make ties with other nations.

The book fair manager also talked of a good exchange of services between Iranian publishers and their French counterparts at least in the past five years during which the Iranian publishers were a fixture in successive editions of the French cultural event.

Morisset acknowledged that Tehran book fair was an opportunity for him to study about book fair administration, including the ways to absorb visitors.

In another regard, the cultural personality touched on Iran’s rich culture and regretted that an eschewed face of Iran has usually been presented to the Western public opinion. “The world’s heart beats in Iran,” Morriset said, adding the two sides must expand their relations through exchange of publications.

The Paris book fair manager then admired the poster of this year’s TIBF event as ‘exceptional’ and ‘scrupulous,’ adding he would have French designers to apply the poster’s graphic tips in the next editions of the Paris cultural event.

For his part, the TIBF president expressed delight at Morisset’s visit to Tehran, hoping that the visit would have positive outcomes by providing an opportunity for the two sides to enhance their mutual cultural exchanges.

Salehi noted the significant role of culture in building bonds among nations, adding the publishing business has a sustainable portion in the cultural assignment.

“The Iranian people have come to know the French largely through reading their books,” the TIBF chief said, adding works of scores of French poets and authors have already been translated into Persian, helping spread their thoughts among the Iranian people.

Salehi approved Morisset’s notion that the world’s heart beats in Iran, adding the rich culture of Iran remains to be in the limelight like in the past.

Also a deputy minister of culture and Islamic guidance in cultural affairs, Salehi said every year average four million people inspect the annual Tehran event in the span of 11 days, making it a veritable cultural festival for the nation.

The TIBF manager noted that over 72 thousand titles were published in the Islamic Republic in the past Iranian year that ended on March 20, half of which first edition.

The 28^th Tehran International Book Fair started work in Tehran on May 6 under the banner of ‘reading as talking to the world.’ The landmark international event runs until May 16.