ISTANBUL — Dünya Newspaper Books Magazine based in Istanbul chose the Bests of the Year for the 26th time and Aras Publishing is granted the Publishing House of the Year award this year. Editor-in-chief Rober Kopas received the award at the ceremony held on January 24. Established in 1993 Aras Publishing aims to be the representative and sustainer of the Armenian publishing tradition, which has a long and established history in Turkey.
The award committee explained why they chose Aras as the following: “Understanding each other can be possible and sustainable through art and literature. Functioning as the window to to Armenian literature, history and culture with its special, meticulous and quality books for years and telling about us to us, Aras Publishing is granted with the Publishing House of the Year award.”
Editor-in-chief Rober Koptas received the award on behalf of Aras from award committee member and writer Basar Basarir. In his speech, Koptas thanked all the workers who have sweated for Aras by this time, authors, translator and readers who keep the publishing house alive. Koptas stated that they dedicate the award to all the citizens who are jailed and prosecuted because of their thoughts and especially to board member Osman Kavala who has been unjustly in jail for 450 days.
Thanking Dünya Books Magazine for granting this meaningful award to Aras on the 25th anniversary of its establishment, Koptas said:
“As Aras, we worked with the awareness that books and literature play an important role in overcoming prejudices between peoples and eliminating the obstacles, and have always tried to publish meticulous and quality books despite difficult conditions. We are floating on air since this valuable award reminded us that our efforts are recognized and appreciated on our 25th year. We dedicate this award to our board member Osman Kavala who has been unjustly in jail for 450 days and to all prisoners who fight with their thought for democratization of Turkey. For us, contributing to cultural scene of Turkey is a part of the struggle for preserving and improving the pluralist fabric of our country. We send our feelings of solidarity and greetings to all publishing houses that are suppressed, ignored, publishing books concerning all the oppressed groups, claiming rights and being sensitive to the efforts of those who claim their rights.”
Aras Publishing was established in 1993 in Istanbul. It adopted a publishing policy which made it called “the window to Armenian literature” soon. With its books in Turkish and Armenian, it became the few publishing houses in Turkey that publish books in two languages. Publishing translations from Armenian authors and Turkish works of contemporary Armenian authors, Aras aims to help people from different cultures who were born and raised on the same land and lived side by side know and understand each other better through literature, and to contribute to the common values of humanity together. Facilitating Anatolia’s cultural values to be passed on next generations, Aras Publishing aims to be the representative and sustainer of the Armenian publishing tradition, which has a long and established history in Turkey.
