International Poetry Festival Starts In Istanbul

ISTANBUL - An international poetry festival was inaugurated in the Turkish province of Istanbul on Tuesday.
"The First International Poetry Festival" started with a ceremony held at Istanbul`s Archaeology Museum.
Dogan Hizlan, the festival`s honorary chairperson, said at the ceremony that holding the festival in Turkey had a special meaning.
"Because, poetry is the most prestigious and the leading literary style which attracts the largest number of readers in Turkey," Hizlan said.
Violinist Cihat Askin gave a concert at the ceremony as well.
"The First International Poetry Festival", which will be held between May 13th and 17th, will bring together a total of 40 Turkish and foreign poets.
Poetry readings, workshops, concerts and a ferry tour will be held within the framework of the festival. The activities will be held at different historical and cultural sights of Istanbul.
The festival`s theme was set as "Contemporary Catalan Poetry".
Numerous poets from Turkey, Catalonia, the Netherlands, Italy, Canada, Germany, France, USA, Macedonia, Bolivia, Cuba, Iraq, Russia, Slovenia and Greece are attending the festival.
(DO-AY)