For more than a quarter of a century, the International Visegrad Fund has supported cooperation among the countries of the Visegrad Group (V4), creating opportunities for connections between people, cultural institutions, academia, and the wider public. This was stated by Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár during an event marking the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the International Visegrad Fund, at which the Visegrad Literary Prize was awarded for the first time on Tuesday (June 16).
“The Visegrad Group began as a political project, but it quickly evolved into a broad partnership that today has a positive impact on all levels of society. This dimension was significantly strengthened by the establishment of the International Visegrad Fund, which plays an important role in supporting cooperation and people-to-people contacts in our region,” Blanár said.
He further explained that one of the tools for strengthening ties among the V4 countries is the Visegrad Literary Residency Program, which since its creation in 2012 has supported authors, translators, and other literary professionals throughout the region. The new Visegrad Literary Prize, presented for the first time on the occasion of the Fund’s 26th anniversary, was built upon the foundations of this program.
“The rich historical and cultural heritage of Central Europe is strongly reflected in its literature. The awarded books represent four different styles and four unique stories that showcase the diversity of our countries,” the minister stated.
The ministry reported that Slovak writer Ivana Gibová received the award on behalf of Slovakia for her novel Grandmother (Babička). According to the expert jury, the work stood out for its distinctive authorial voice, powerful story, and ability to address challenging social issues in a way that appeals to a broad readership.
Other laureates included: Alena Machoninová from the Czech Republic for Hella, Paweł Pieniażek from Poland for War in My House (Vojna v mojom dome), and Róbert Milbacher from Hungary for the novel Bitter Water (Horká voda).
The minister also recalled that on July 1, Slovakia will take over the rotating presidency of the Visegrad Group from Hungary.
According to Blanár, the Slovak presidency's program will be based on four interconnected priorities:
Competitiveness,
European Union enlargement,
Sectoral cooperation,
People-to-people contacts.
Source: TASR
