Republican Party of Armenia

On April 22 Yerevan assumed with solemnity the title of World Book Capital 2012. During the ceremony held on this event the Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan particularly noted in his speech: "Today our city which has an almost 3 thousand-year-old history and a great cultural heritage assumes with pride and enthusiasm the honorary title of World Book Capital. Book and literature have always played an important role for our people. Due to this we had been able to resist many trials of the fate through centuries. There are few cities in the world which like Yerevan may be proud with a cuneiform birth certificate. As early as in 782 BC King Argishti documented that way the birth of our city.
Our age-old history has a lot of evidences of love reaching great reverence and worship towards writing and books beginning with Tir, the pagan god of writing and science up to modern monuments dedicated to Armenian alphabet.
In the Gold Age of Armenia the creation of letters by Mesrop Mashtots was followed by creation of various parchment manuscripts and books by Armenian genii. It is not accidental that the first sentence written in Armenian letters contains urges to recognize wisdom.
I am proud that our country of centuries-old literature culture and 500-year-old book printing today assumes a part of international responsibility for book, literature and culture propaganda. I assure that Yerevan will play a significant role in this mission and next year will pass this title to Bangkok having satiated it, having made it more important and enriched.
In closing I would like to assure that Yerevan is ready to welcome all of you and the world book loving public for a full year.
Let’s fix our future together!
Thank you".