Writers' Union of Armenia opens printing house with AGBU's help

Published: Tuesday November 17, 2009

AGBU President Berge Setrakian and Writers' Union of Armenia Chairman Levon Ananian during the November 3 opening of the WUA's new AGBU Levon Zaven Surmelian printing house.
. Photolure

AGBU President Berge Setrakian looks at the new sign for the Writers' Union of Armenia's new AGBU Levon Zaven Surmelian printing house. Photolure

New York - Continuing its support of cultural programs, particularly its contribution to the development of Armenian literature and book publishing both in Armenia and the diaspora, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) has expanded its cooperation with the Writers' Union of Armenia. With the financial support of AGBU, WUA has published works of Armenian writers and organized pan-Armenian conferences.

With a new initiative to promote book publishing, the AGBU has sponsored the establishment of a printing house at the Writers' Union of Armenia, which will carry the name of prominent Armenian-American writer Levon Zaven Surmelian.

Support has been provided by the AGBU Levon Zaven Surmelian Fund for the purchase of the necessary printing equipment. Months ago, the same fund had also sponsored the publication of Levon Zaven Surmelian's textbook, Techniques of Prose: Measure and Madness, in Eastern Armenian as part of the History of Literature: XX Century series.

The official opening ceremony of the AGBU Levon Zaven Surmelian Printing House took place at the Writers' Union of Armenia on November 3 with the participation of AGBU President Berge Setrakian and WUA Chairman Levon Ananian.

"Having our own printing house has been the dream of our writers for decades. Even in Soviet times we could not realize this dream. And today, despite all the hardships, despite the global economic crisis, the Armenian General Benevolent Union extended a helping hand and so we have our modern printing house. Surmelian is one of our prominent writers and his name will be on every book published here," said Mr. Ananian during his speech.

"Levon Zaven Surmelian was a great writer and a great philanthropist. This is our tribute of respect to keep his memory alive in his homeland," said Setrakian. He highlighted the efforts of Torkom Postajian, Surmelian's executor, toward the creation of the newly opened printing house.