President Inaugurates XII International Book Fair

Dominican President Leonel Fernández led the inauguration of the XII International Book Fair of Santo Domingo yesterday where organizers are expecting more than 650 participants, 240 of them international. There will be nearly 100 new books launched, most of which are Dominican.

…complemented the opening event of the International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2009 which is dedicated to the writer and politician, Juan Bosch.

President Fernández was accompanied by First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, at the ceremony celebrated in the Eduardo Brito Hall of the National Theater.

Music and colors from Brazil, the guest of honor this year, complemented the opening event of the International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2009 which is dedicated to the writer and politician, Juan Bosch.

The show began at 8:00 p.m. with the singing of the Dominican and Brazilian National Anthems led by the brother-sister duo Emanuel and Jennifer Carolina Ramírez who are 12 and 10-years-old respectively.

Later a report about the life of Juan Bosch was broadcast as well as a brief history of Brazil. The inaugural speech was given by Culture Minister José Rafael Lantigua, who emphasized the various cultural activities going on as part of the XII International Book Fair.

President Fernández cut the symbolic ribbon with the help of honor students Miguel Díaz, 14, and Zoila Lissette Martínez, 19.

The event, whose slogan is “Reading Lifts You Up” will be going on until May 3.