President Fernández will inaugurate the Second International Book Fair tonight at 7 pm on the grounds of the National Conservatory in Santo Domingo. This year’s fair is dedicated to National Poet Pedro Mir and to Mexico as special guest country. Mir, 85 years old and sick with chronic respiratory troubles, will be unable to attend the inaugural ceremonies. The 11-day fair invited participation from 26 countries; participating will be 203 foreign publishers, including 81 from Mexico, 44 from Spain, 20 from Puerto Rico, 16 from Cuba, five from Argentina, and an enormous exhibition from the People’s Republic of China. Ninety-three Dominican bookstores will participate, as will 38 authors, 26 governmental bodies, 15 cultural foundations and academies, eight publishers, and six multilateral organizations (such as the Pan American Health Organization).
