68th WORLD CONGRESS
OF INTERNATIONAL P.E.N.
17th – 24th September 2002
OHRID, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
GENERAL
INFORMATION
The 68th International P.E.N. Congress will be held in the Republic
of Macedonia, a country at the crossroads between East and West and a bridge
connecting their cultures. It is constantly improving its contacts and
co-operation with neighbouring countries and the wider world, and despite the
conflicts in the region, its small size and lack of wealth, it is eager to
take its place within the cultural communication of the world.
The Macedonian P.E.N. Centre has for many years been involved
in the organization of literary and cultural festivals in Macedonia, such as
the Struga International Poetry Evenings Festival. In particular, it has held
five Regional P.E.N. Conferences in Ohrid over a period of ten years,
providing a calm and supportive environment for the writers of the region to
meet, to introduce their writings to each other and to work together to
sustain each other’s cultural and linguistic rights. Through these meetings it
has made a major contribution to the re-stating of the principles and values
of International P.E.N. in a troubled part of the world.
By its very presence and concrete expression of the tenets of
the Charter, the Congress will support the efforts of the Republic of
Macedonia to further develop its democratic processes and to maintain its role
as an important factor for peace and stability in the region. It will also
give great support to the Macedonian P.E.N. Centre in its affirmation of and
work for the literature, the language and the culture of the Macedonian nation
and the minorities that live in the country, at the same time confirming its
active role in the whole region of the Balkans.
The Congress will be based in Ohrid, one of the oldest
centres of Slavic literacy and culture, which UNESCO has recognised as a World
Heritage Site. It is a city of outstanding beauty, located by the Lake of
Ohrid, with a continuous literary tradition since the 10th century. The city
of the founders of Slavic literacy, Sts Cyril and Methodius and their
disciples St Clement and St Naum, it was the home of Grigor Prlichev, one of
the greatest poets of the 19th century, and many others.
The Macedonian P.E.N. Centre has planned a full programme of discussions,
receptions, literary events, excursions and entertainment, including two
poetry readings. On 20th September, a poetry reading will be conducted in
English and Macedonian, featuring poets and poetry from the region. On 22nd
September an international poetry reading will be held in the ancient
cathedral church of St Sophia where traditionally the poet laureates of the
unique and world-famous Struga Poetry Evenings Festival have been presented.
Here will be an opportunity to read at the venue where such poets as Senghor,
Alberti, Adonis, Ritsos, Vozhnesensky, Ginsberg, Hughes, Amichai, Heaney and
many others, have read their poetry. On 21st September there will be an
evening of Macedonian folk music and dance that will display the enormous
wealth of the centuries’ old Macedonian folk tradition.
The old city of Ohrid and its vicinity abound in magnificent
ancient archaeological sites and monasteries dating from the early 12th to the
18th century, adorned with unique mosaics, frescoes, wood carving and other
relics and artefacts. The lake, the mountains around it, the city’s
architecture, its museums, restaurants and cafés provide a wonderful arena for
the Congress, and offer the visitor a remarkable range of sightseeing, walking
and leisure-time activities.
TRAVEL TO AND FROM MACEDONIA
Note: This information was correct at the time of going to press. It is
essential to check all details with your travel agent or airline before making
your booking.
Flights to and from European cities to Skopje
Flights go to Skopje from a variety of European cities, including the
following:
Amsterdam, Athens, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, London,
Munich, Rome, Stuttgart, Vienna, Zagreb and Zurich
NOTE: Transport to and from the airports will be provided. So that this
can be organized, it is essential that as soon as you have made your
travel arrangements you give the Congress organizers full details of your
flight – dates and times of arrival and departure, airline and flight numbers.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Please check whether or not you need a visa. Valid Macedonian visas, if
required, may be obtained at the diplomatic and consular offices of the
Republic of Macedonia. In countries where such offices do not exist, visas may
be obtained upon arrival in Macedonia.
ACCOMMODATION
The setting of the hotels “Metropol” and “Bellevue”, where
the Congress will be held, is spectacular. The hotels are located on the shore
of the Lake of Ohrid, have their own beaches and form a complete Conference
Centre, with meeting-rooms, a press room, restaurants, bars and bedrooms. This
is where all delegates and participants will be accommodated, in newly
furnished, comfortable rooms, single or double, with private facilities.
The Host Centre pays for the accommodation of up to two
Official Delegates per Centre in the hotels Metropol and Bellevue for seven
nights, with full board, from 17th – 24th September 2002. Delegates wishing to
stay for extra nights before or after this period will be charged pro rata for
each night. All other participants are responsible for the costs of their
accommodation.
All Delegates and participants should book in advance, and it
is important to do this directly with the Congress Office, FRAMA Travel
Agency, tel. (+389 2) 11 51 24, fax (+389 2) 16 24 11, e-mail
frama@unet.com.mk
Alternatively, bookings can be made independently in a range
of other hotels located nearby. In such cases, it should be noted that
Delegates will not be reimbursed for the costs of their accommodation.
all contents © Macedonian
P.E.N.
