«Initiatives to promote books, reading, literature, thinking and dialog will spread throughout the country,» said Ricardo Alarcón, president of the Cuban Parliament.

Before writers, editors, promoters, representatives of the Cuban Book Institute, the Federation of University Students and the Ministry of Culture, he also praised the work done by book fairs held since this past summer, noting that these have helped reinvigorate young peoples thirst for reading.

«I have to congratulate you because you are being faithful to the Cuban youths tradition of reading, thinking, talking, debating,» said Alarcón, in an act organized by the Young Communist League (UJC) to recognize participants in these works.

Julio Martínez, first secretary of the Cuban Young Communist League (UJC), presented Alarcón with two photo albums for Commander-in-chief Fidel Castro and Army General Raúl Castro; these recorded what these initiatives to promote books and reading have represented for the Cuban people.

Martínez highlighted the constant exchange and integration achieved in these efforts to make culture closer to everyone and spoke about the need for new methods implemented with greater creativity to spread book and art fairs through all the country.

The act was attended by Abel Prieto, Cuban minister of Culture; Eliades Acosta, head of the Culture Department of the Partys Central Committee; and writers Roberto Fernández Retamar, César López and Jaime Sarusky.

(acn)