(May 15, 2017) The 13th edition of the International Book Fair in Teheran (May 3 to 13, 2017) was completed on May 13, 2017 in the Iranian capital, with Italy as Host Country of Honor: the first time for Italian books at the Fair, as well as a historic debut for a Western publishing in that context, has been an undeniable success. The Italian participation – made possible by the collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, the Italian Embassy in Tehran, Italtrade, the Book and Reading Center, in agreement with the Italian Association of Publishers (AIE) – has been dedicated to the “Timeless Beauty” which characterizes the cultural, literary, artistic and scientific heritage of Italy, chosen as the guide theme for the appointment program. The visitors of the Fair, each year with extraordinary participation (this time more than 3 million people), have been able to discover the richness of our history, as well as the new prospects that are open to the present and to the future thanks to stories and suggestions from some of the greatest contemporary Italian authors: Alessandro Barbero, Marco Belpoliti, Gianni Biondillo, Melania Mazzucco, Valerio Magrelli, Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Beatrice Masini, Michela Murgia, Marcello Nardis, Luca Novelli, Marco Pastonesi, Guido Scarabottolo and Michele Serra, who have spoken with Iranian colleagues like Elham Asadi, Mehdi Asadzadeh, Iman Mansub Basiri, Hoda Hadadi, Mahsa Mohebali, Kamran Afshar Naderi, Ehsan Rezaei, Ramin Sadighi, Antonia Shoraka, Mohammad Tolouei. The Italian Pavilion, created by the Italtrade and designed by the young architect Leila Araghian – who in the first days of the Fair has repeatedly told visitors about the idea of Italy that inspired him, the Renaissance – was inaugurated by Antimo Cesaro, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism and Mauro Conciatori, Ambassador of Italy in Iran. There were also Iranian institutions and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Vincenzo Amendola. (Red)
