On 29 September 2017, an event titled ‘Ukrainian Book for the ATO Zone: Project Ukrainian Library” was held at the Ukrinform news agency.
Opening the event, State Secretary of the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine Artem Bidenko noted: “The topic of our event is the revival of Ukrainian publishing industry as well as the publication of books for the needs of the East, the ATO zone, the Army, and for the popularization of Ukraine in the world by means of diplomatic missions.
“The Ministry of Information Policy was entrusted by the specialized Committee with the task of supporting publications for the ATO zone. We have completed the first stage of the task, so take over the work,” said Bidenko, showing publications printed by MIP.
According to Victoriia Siumar, Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Freedom of Speech and Information Policy, the issue of the Ukrainian book in Eastern Ukraine is urgent (for more than 20 years, Ukrainian literature has not been sent to libraries in the East), but even more urgent is the issue of modern Ukrainian literature.
“Our priority is military units, public libraries of the East, schools. We need books about Ukrainian history, the history of Donbas, as well as about the history of war, war tactics, contemporary pieces on the situation in the East,” said Siumar.
Taras Moskalenko, First Secretary of the Department of Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that it was very important that the stand of the Ukrainian book should be presented at the Frankfurt [Book] Fair.
“There is a need for Ukrainian literature in Russian, meant for the Russian-speaking consumer,” stressed Moskalenko.
After the event, MIP’s representatives exchanged their views with publishers, who also were invited to the event to work on the publication of books for the ATO zone.
Artem Bidenko suggested: “We want to discuss with you the process of the organization of the very publication, that is, transportation, translation, topics, and so on.
“It may be an Expert Council, which will help us approach the problem in a more professional way. We are ready for close cooperation and are looking forward to your proposals.”
The event was organized by the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine and the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Freedom of Speech and Information Policy.
Participants: Victoriia Siumar, Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Freedom of Speech and Information Policy; Artem Bidenko, State Secretary of the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine; Taras Moskalenko, First Secretary of the Department of Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Ukrainian publishers.