Today at the Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Center LITEXPO The four-day 23rd Vilnius Book Fair was solemnly opened. This year's fair writes symbolic 700 lines for freedom, so it is precisely the theme of freedom that has become one of the most important highlights of the opening of the Vilnius Book Fair. "Above the city is blue, above the city is yellow," sounded the opening song performed by songwriter and performer Domantas Razauskas.
The opening of the fair was attended by the President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda with his wife Diana Nausėdiene, Minister of Culture of Lithuania Simonas Kairys, Mayor of Vilnius Remigius Šimašius, the laureate of this year's National Culture and Art Prize, the poet Rimvydas Stankevičius, all of whom wrote their own symbolic verse in the book of freedom, and the translator, poet, Marius Burokas, who was awarded the honorary badge "Carry your light and believe".
"Only the free create history, not become it" - this is the inscription left by the President of the Republic of Lithuania G. Nausėda in the symbolic book of freedom, recalling the events that took place exactly one year ago during the opening ceremony in Ukraine, his visit to Kyiv and Brussels. "Some say that there is no need to politicize the book festival, but what is happening in Ukraine is no longer politics, it is a huge injustice that is happening in front of us. We, free people, will not be indifferent to this. As we were not indifferent before the war, as we were not indifferent in the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We will not remain indifferent until the war ends and justice triumphs," said President G. Nausėda.
In his speech, the president emphasized that the book is a powerful weapon. Only a book that radiates goodness and light is invincible. "I believe in a beautiful book and a beautiful future of Lithuania," concluded President G. Nausėda in his welcoming speech to the participants and guests of the Vilnius Book Fair.
The second symbolic opening line of the Vilnius Book Fair went to the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania S. Kairis. "Those who inspired freedom will never give it away!" - he wrote in the symbolic book. In his welcoming speech, the minister recalled the opening of the Vilnius Book Fair a year ago, which coincided with the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Although the eyes saw the images from the bombed Kyiv, the mind could not accept the madness that took place and continues to take place. However, the Book Fair happened, it became a test of our resilience and determination, we had and still have the strength to move forward, we don't need to be reminded that the war is not over."
Thanking the cultural community, which did not remain indifferent, to writers, translators, commentators and publishers, the Minister of Culture S. Kairys presented the highest Ministry of Culture award - badge of honor "Carry your light and believe" to poet, translator, columnist M. Burok. The award is dedicated to him for the highest professional excellence and human sensitivity in providing consistent, reliable and clear information about the war in Ukraine on a daily basis, translating the works of Ukrainian poets into Lithuanian, and, together with the literary community, mobilizing support measures for fighting soldiers and Ukrainian writers living in war conditions.
In his short speech of thanks, Mr. Burok read the poem "The First Letter to the Corinthians" by the Ukrainian poet Artur Dronis.
Vilnius city mayor R. Šimašius, who stepped onto the opening stage of the Vilnius Book Fair for the eighth time, wrote in the book of freedom: "A free city is created by free people." He remembered the words spoken at the opening of the fair a year ago about an apple orchard that needs to be planted despite the war going on. "The year was extraordinary, we can not only be angry and afraid of many things, but also rejoice that some people opened their eyes, that many people shouldered their shoulders and that we experienced that the enemy is not as strong as it seemed, and our friends are much stronger than we thought ", said the mayor of Vilnius. He said that the Vilnius Book Fair is an important tradition of the city, which creates an atmosphere of freedom and respect.
"Freedom is responsibility inspired by love!" - this is the line written by poet Rimvydas Stankevičius, laureate of this year's Lithuanian National Culture and Art Prize. Congratulating Ukraine, which has been defending its freedom with blood for exactly one year, and Vilnius, which has existed for 700 years, and Lithuania, which regained its independence 32 years ago, the poet sincerely congratulated everyone who took advantage of their freedom to come to the books, instead of not coming. "The book is the most powerful weapon of freedom - the more calculated, the more intellectual, the deeper a person is - the more difficult it is to enslave him," said the poet.
The opening was hosted by poet, songwriter and performer Domantas Razauskas, who presented his song "Iron Rain" together with multi-instrumentalist Saulius Petreikis.
