Republic

20 countries will take part in the 15th international exhibition and fair Books of Belarus 2008, Elena Platonova, the head of the publishing activity and book trade department of the Belarusian Information Ministry, told BelTA. According to the specialist, the Minsk fair is popular among book publishers from various countries. This year, publishers from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Venezuela and Switzerland will take part in the exhibition for the first time. Around 600 exhibitors will be represented at the book forum (400 – from Belarus, more than 120 from Russia and Ukraine and 29 – from Israel). The exposition will occupy 3 thousand square meters. Israel which is the honorary guest of the 15th international book exhibition and fair Books of Belarus 2008, will showcase more than 800 books of Israeli, Belarusian and Russian publishing houses. More than a half of the exposition will become the books published by Israeli publishing houses. The books dedicated to historical, philosophic and religious issues and culinary will be presented there. The editions in Hebrew will be showcased at the book forum as well. The programme of the exhibition includes 120 various events: seminars, roundtables, presentation of books and publishing houses, working and art sessions, consultations, performances and shows. The exhibitions “Golden Fund of Belarusian Poster”, “Books Art 2007” will be held within the framework of the forum. On February 6, the photo-exhibition “My Belarus” will open. This year the admission to the book forum will be free.