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![\"President](\"\/Portal\/noticias\/feria_inaugura_65.jpg\")
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T<\/SPAN>he President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fern\u00e1ndez, and the Vice President Rafael Alburquerque presided over the opening ceremony yesterday at the inauguration of the 11th International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2008, dedicated this year to the Association of Caribbean States and in homage to Dominican historian Emilio Rodr\u00edguez Demorizi. <\/P> In keeping with data submitted by Lantiagua, 44 countries, 1,006 writers, 656 publishers exhibiting books, 252 of them foreigners, are participating in the 11th International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2008. <\/P> President Fernandez cut the ribbon to officially launch the annual cultural event being held at the Eduardo Brito Hall of the National Theater. Accompanying the President was the First Lady, the Minister of Culture and honor students Leidy Isabel Hern\u00e1ndez, of Monte Plata, and H\u00e9ctor An\u00edbal Santill\u00e1n, of Villa Verde, La Romana. At the inauguration, President Fern\u00e1ndez was given 41 copies of the same number of books that are being put into circulation during the fair that will go on until May 4. Also present at the opening ceremony was Book Fair Director Alejandro Arvelo; Luis Fernando Fallas and Ruben Sili\u00e9, of the Association of Caribbean States and Clara Rodr\u00edguez Demorizi, daughter of famed historian Emilio Rodr\u00edguez Demorizi, among others. The Minister of Culture gave the main speech in which he emphasized the achievements and conquests made in education, such as the National Commission for the Promotion of Books and Reading; the approval of the Five-Year Book and Reading Plan and the Law Project for Books and Libraries. In keeping with data submitted by Lantiagua, 44 countries, 1,006 writers, 656 publishers exhibiting books, 252 of them foreigners, are participating in the 11th International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2008. Throughout the Fair there will be 2,432 conferences and 90 book presentations being given as well as hundreds of workshops, readings, discussions and artistic presentations. During the opening ceremony, various people and companies were recognized for their support of the events promoted by the Ministry of Culture. Jos\u00e9 Le\u00f3n Asencio received recognition in the name of the Le\u00f3n Jimenes Group which yearly offers the National Book Prize. The Society for Cultural Renovation of Puerto Plata, represented by Lilian Russo; the Antorcha Group represented by Mateo Morrison, Soledad \u00c1lvarez, Enrique Eusebio, the late Rafael Abreu Mej\u00eda and the President of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications, Jos\u00e9 Rafael Vargas. The ceremony ended with an artistic presentation, \u201cThe Caribbean, A Sea of Culture,\u201d produced by Carlos Alfredo Fatule.
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