The International Book Fair in Belgrade (Sajam Knjiga), scheduled from 24 to 31 October, has been cancelled due to the worsening epidemiological situation. As reported by Nova, the publishers’ association has confirmed that the Book Fair will not be held this year.
One of the reasons for the cancellation of the International Book Fair is the 1st October deadline, by which the organisers should have announced the final decision on whether to hold the event or not.
On behalf of two associations and groups of independent publishers, a letter was sent to the Belgrade Fair announcing their decision not to participate in the Fair. Major publishers were also unanimous in their decision that there were no safe conditions for holding the Book Fair, either from an epidemiological or organisational point of view.
The deputy mayor of Belgrade, Goran Vesić, said that the city was ready to hold the Book Fair, but only people who had been vaccinated or had a negative PCR test could enter the Fair. Even this condition was not accepted by the publishing houses who had planned to participate in the Fair.
(Novi Magazin, 05.10.2021)
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