General Assembly 2010
The Baltic Writers’ Council General Assembly 2010
Visby, March 26-27
Minutes
Participants:
Janina Orlov, Swedish Writers’ Union
Karl Martin Sinijärv, Estonian Writers’ Union
Tor Tveite, The Norwegian Association of Literary Translators
Mudite Treimane, Latvian Writers’ Union
Jaana Nikula, The Finnish Association of Tranlators and Interpreters
Anatol Ivaschanka, The Union of Belarusian Writers
Liutauras Degesys, Lithuanian Writers’ Union
Heinrich Bleicher-Nagelsmann, German Writers’ Union
Klaus-Jürgen Liedtke, German Writers’ Union
Hannu Niklander, The Union of Finnish Writers
Jukka-Pekka Pietiäinen, The Finnish Association of Non-Fiction Writers
Peter Curman, BCWT
Lena Pasternak, BCWT
1) The Chairperson of the Council Janina Orlov opened the meeting at 13:10. The participants presented themselves.
2) Following some changes in the order of items, the Agenda was approved by the Assembly.
3) Ms. Orlov was elected Chairperson of the Assembly and Ms. Nikula was elected Secretary.
4) The Chairperson presented her Activity report.
As one could expect, the year 2009 turned out to be one full of action. Already at the GA in Visby 28-29.3, it became clear that the Third Baltic Meetings , which was planned to take place in St.Petersburg in the beginning of June, would not be realized. Due to the financial crisis, the City of SPbg found itself forced to cancel the event. Instead some key representatives within the BWC were invited by the the above mentioned hosts to participate in the forthcoming book fair ”Knizhnyj Salon” 23-27.3. Luckily enough, Karl- Martin Sinijärv, already during the GA, and on a very short notice, sorted things out with the Estonian Writers’ Union and as a result the Third Baltic Meeting was decided to be held in Narva and Käsmu.
Apart from the swift change of plans, the GA also rapidly formulated an appeal for the preservation of The Swedish Author’s Fund, due to the proposal presented by the Swedish inquiry on cultural policy. The appeal appeared as a press release and it was also read aloud in two languages by Lena Pasternak during a big manifestation, which was arranged by the Swedish Writer’s Union at Mynttorget , Old Town on March, the 2nd. As it turned out later, the Authors’ Fund in fact, remained untouched by the governmental cultural politics, for which we are all very grateful.
Between April 23th-26th, Peter Curman, Lena Pasternak and myself, represented the Centre as well as the BWC at the book fair Knizhnyj Salon, Lenexpo, in St. Petersburg. The City itself served as our host together with the local writers’ union, the latter of which arranged a magnificient city tour where we were guided by a handful of the city’s most prominent writers. We were also invited to a fantastic buffet dinner at the Centre of Modern Literature and Books, led by A. Zhitinsky, in order to meet with members of the St. Petersburg Writers’ Union. All in all the days proved very productive with new acquaintances and ideas.
Back home the preparations for the Third Baltic Meeting continued, including applications for funding, decisions about the programme and revision of the participant list.
The Third Baltic Meeting took place in Tallinn, Narva and Käsmu (Estonia) between the 9th and 11th of June. Twenty-four eager participants from Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Germany gathered in Narva for walks, talks and recitation. Ilya Fonyakov, poet, translator and member of the SPbg writers’ union had seen to it that all texts performed, were translated into Russian. After a thought provoking tour in the Narva castle, during which Peter Curman and the chair-person unintentionally almost crossed the border to Russia, we gathered for luncheon and the drive to beautiful Käsmu. Here the BWC board held a meeting while the rest of the group enjoyed themselves by reading and recitation. Among the issues discussed, the board decided that K-J- Liedtke may continue his project on creating a virtual Baltic library, using the name of BWC, however without BWC being financially responsible. The decision was lively debated among the parties involved during the fall, and it was only in December that an agreement could be reached.
During the meeting an inquiry form consisting of three questions was distributed among the participants. The questions were as follows: 1. What does BWC signify for you, what do you know about BWC’s activity? 2. Your expectations concerning BWC, how could BWC act for you/ your organization? 3. How could you/ your organization act for BWC.
The same questionnaire was also sent to all the boards of our member organizations. 14 representatives (from Estonia, Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden) responded and the result was somewhat blurred. The wish for networking and co-operation across the borders was a common feature, – less poetics and more politics, – less English, co-operation in publishing, copyright, etc. Hardly surprising, the difference between the Centre and the BWC is still unclear to many. Thus, much work remains to be done in order to clarify the significance, role and profile of the BWC.
The meeting was documented by Ingela Bendt, who published an article in Författaren, by Jaana Nikula, who wrote a piece for Kääntäjä and by Unn Gustafsson, who was appointed by K-J Liedtke, and who wrote an article about the meeting for the quiet recently founded journal Baltic Worlds, which is still not available on the net.
Through the whole year a specially elected group consisting of Merete Jensen, Tor Tveite and Heinrich Bleicher-Nagelsmann, has been occupied reforming the statutes. The new interesting proposal is presented on the organization’s new website and is to be evaluated on the upcoming GA 2010. The website was originally initiated by Jaana Nikula and created by Rabbe Sandelin.
Finally, we have to accept the fact that the Danes have left us, but on the other hand Belarus is becoming a member. Our financial situation is quiet acceptable, and there are several ideas about future activities. Next year’s meeting in Turku in co-operation with Littera Baltica is only one example.
A lively discussion followed. Mr. Degesys felt the Board should try more eagerly to engage Poland and other missing unions into participation. Also, he required the homepage to work more efficiently as a channel of communication and to provide updated information. Mr. Curman promised to enquire the Danish playwrights whether they’d be interested in joining the BWC.
Mr. Liedtke presented some criticism concerning the meeting in Narva. First, there was no reception at the City Hall. Second, there was no advertising and thus no public at the reading in the castle. Third, a female participant was verbally abused by a male participant.
Mr. Sinijärv informed about the difficulties in negotiating with the Narva city officials. The harassment was condemned by the Assembly.
5) Before presenting her report the Treasurer Ms. Treimane was thanked for her work and congratulated for her birthday with flowers and presents.
The report was followed by a discussion about the fees and when to send the invoices. Mr. Pietiäinen offered to clarify the somewhat blur budget for the Assembly and the budget issue was transferred into next day.
6) Mr. Bleicher-Nagelsmann presented the proposed changes to statutes. Together with Tor Tveite and Merete Jensen he had worked out a proposal which could be downloaded from the homepage before the Assembly (see Appendix 1).
The main issue was the voting procedure (Article VII, General Assembly). In the end the working group decided to propose to give the countries represented in BWC two votes each. The proposal was opposed by the Finnish participants Niklander, Pietiäinen and Nikula who emphasized that all the organisations which had paid the membership fee should be able to vote as well.
Voting of the approval of the proposed changes: for 6, abstain 1.
The new statutes in Appendix 2.
7) By the new voting system The Union of Belarusian Writers (UBW) was voted as a member of BWC by 14 votes for, 0 against.
Mr. Ivaschanka thanked the Council and read a statement by the President of UBW Mr. Alies Pashkievicz.
Statement by the Union of Belarusian Writers on harassment of the Union’s members
After the formation of the Public Association ‘The Union of the Writers of Belarus’ (UWB) in 2006, the Association’s management, assisted by the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Culture, together with their departments, have been taking numerous purposeful measures aimed at the suppression of the activities by Belarus’ oldest writer’s union – the Union of Belarusian Writers (UBW). The Union was evicted and deprived of state support. Works by the UBW members were removed from school and university curricula. The Polymia, Nioman, Maladosts literary magazines, as well as the LiM weekly, founded by the UBW, were handed over to the newly-created Union. The Ministry of Education banned literary meetings with the UBW members at schools, universities and libraries. The writers working at state-owned enterprises have been forced to leave the UBW, founded by Kupala and Kolas, and join the newly-founded Union.
Despite the terrible working conditions, the UBW has survived and remains the biggest literary organization of Belarus. The newly-created UWB, having received all the possible preferences by the authorities (including the financing of its employers’ work), in the three years of its existence, has not been able to withstand the creative competition with the UBW, neither in the amount of activities, nor in the quality of texts, neither in quantity, nor in respect by the society. With the help of administrative resources and former bureaucratic connections, the management of the newly-created UWB launched a crusade against the UBW and its members.
In 2010, an unprecedented campaign of defamation and harassment against the members of our officially registered organization is underway. Both Belarusian and Russian-speaking writers, poets and critics have been summoned to state departments and forced to leave the UBW across the country.
The shameful and illegal manifestations of the campaign were registered in the capital and in the regions (the Litaratura i mastatstva magazine, the Mastatskaya litaratura publishers, the publishing houses of the National Academy of Sciences, the Belarusian State University, the Belarusian National Technical University, the Belarusian State Economic University, the Belarusian State Pedagogic University etc., regional universities, newspaper editorial boards, museums and schools). According to our information, the campaign was approved by the Belarusian authorities.
In the few last weeks alone, some 100 UBW members have addressed the management and the Council of the Union with a request to provide assistance in protecting their civil rights, guaranteed by the Belarusian Constitution and the Law on Public Associations. Specifically, administrative and psychological harassment has been used against a poetess living in the Chernobyl Zone and raising two children on a scanty salary…
This is an unprecedented mass harassment against Belarusian writers, unheard of since the Stalin epoch.
Considering the above-mentioned information, in pursuance of the provisions of the organizations’ Charter and referring to the corresponding Laws and the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, the Council of the UBW urges:
– to promptly stop the harassment of the UBW members;
– to provide adequate assessment of the destructive activities by the UWB management, led by M.Charhinets, which undermines the contemporary literary and social development, as well as the national culture in general;
Otherwise, we will have to apply for help to such international organizations as the International Community of Writers’ Unions (Moscow), the European Writers’ Council (Brussels), the Baltic Writers’ Council (Stockholm), the International Association of Writers’ Unions ‘Word without Borders’ and other partners of the UBW. At the same time, we reserve a right to hold authorized public protests to protect the rights of the members of the Union of Belarusian Writers to work and membership in public associations.
Adapted unanimously
3 February 2010
The Chairperson proposed an open letter to the newspapers to show the Council’s support to UBW. (See Appendix 3).
The session was ended at 16:15.
8) The session was resumed at 10:10 on Saturday March 28. Mr. Pietiäinen presented the Auditors’ report. The Board was granted freedom of responsibility. The Budget was presented jointly by the Treasurer and Mr. Pietiäinen.
9) Ms. Lena Pasternak, the Director of BCWT gave her report. In 2009 the major events at the Centre were two translators’ workshops, a Poetic seminar and the Poetry Festival in co-operation with visual artists. The house was fully occupied with 3256 guest nights, 138 writers and 39 translators. 60% of the guests were women, 40% were men. The basic funding of the Centre is a problem since more staff is needed, a librarian and an assistant. Also, the new Swedish cultural policy which aims to regionalize the Centre is causing some problems. Developing Gotland into an international meeting place is not the aim of the Centre, it is the side-effect. Mr. Curman pointed out that the Centre is a unique meeting place between east and west, a truly international centre. He urged everyone to write shortly and personally about the value and meaning of the Centre and send the documents to Ms. Pasternak and/or to the Chairperson.
10) Mr. Curman and Ms. Nikula informed about the conference Sufism and Peace which was held in Islamabad earlier in March. Mr. Curman presented there his idea of a third writers’ cruise in Eastern Mediterranean. The theme of the cruise should be: ”The role of the writer in areas of conflict”. The speech he gave in Islamabad can be read from his homepage HYPERLINK “http://www.petercurman.se/” http://www.petercurman.se/.
11) The Chairperson took up the question of the future of BWC. At the present there are 20 member-organisations from 11 countries. Maybe it is time to approach new areas and countries like Armenia and Georgia? A discussion followed. Mr. Tveite pointed out that if we open doors to everyone it will be even more difficult to explain what we are doing. And delegates from those countries won’t be able to participate the GA anyway. Mr. Degesys added that the BWC must first take care of the present members and then others. According to Ms. Nikula there are two kinds of organisations: those who need BWC and who can benefit greatly from being a member, like UBW and those who don’t need BWC at all, like the Danes. Mr. Bleicher-Nagelsmann thought that some research about the organisation is needed before it can be welcomed as a member. Mr. Liedtke stated that organisations of Faroe Island and Greenland ought to be addressed. Session was ended at 12:55.
12) The session was resumed after lunch-break at 14:05. Baltic Meeting 2011 was discussed. The Chairperson and Secretary presented their concept which was approved by the Assembly. The meeting will be arranged in Turku, June 9-12 together with Littera Baltica. The focus will be on children’s literature and the name of the happening will be Picture this! There will be a participation fee of 75 euros, and each organisation pays the travels to and from Turku.
13) Country reports followed. Mr. Sinijärv presented the Estonian report.
During the past year, apart from dealing with dire financial and economical problems, our main issues have been:
organizing the first Tallinn literature festival (May 2009) and the second one to come this May
organizing numerous literary tours all over Estonia with about 60 writers performing in schools and libraries
producing daily poetry minishow for Estonian TV
organizing weekly literature events in Tallinn and Tartu
Baltic Meeting in Narva and Kasmu
Maintaining literary houses in Tallinn, Tartu and Kasmu
Cooperation with the ministry of culture and cultural endowment
Surviving ϑ
Mr. Degesys gave the Lithuanian report.
The Main Recent Events in Literary and Cultural Life of Lithuania in 2009- 2010.
THE LITHUANIAN WRITERS’ UNION that has about 350 members.
THE LITHUANIAN WRITERS’ UNION is financed mainly through the Ministry of Culture and different funds. Some money is applied from different international foundations.
THE LITHUANIAN WRITERS’ UNION still possess some real estate: ownership of a house in Vilnius old town. We are renting out some rooms to a coffee-house and cultural institutions.
THE LITHUANIAN WRITERS’ UNION still has villa in Palanga and Nida, but they are in really bad shape and are in the step of disappearance – because of no money for restoring. We would accept any proposals of cooperation in the international projects of building international writers centers or Center for Baltic Writers’ Council.
Every Year the Writers’ Club that is the division of our Union organizes about 150 literary events, readings, presentations, meetings and activities. The Writers’ Union Publishers is one of the largest publishing houses and every year publishes the largest amount of books by Lithuanian writers. THE LITHUANIAN WRITERS’ UNION participates in numerous projects and grants literary awards.
During 2009- 2010 THE LITHUANIAN WRITERS’ UNION played an important role in organizing Lithuanian’s literary life.
The literary events in 2009-2010.
The Druskininkai Poetic Fall – 2009
Druskininkai Poetic Fall and the 5th World Haiku Association Conference 2009
Druskininkai 20th Poetic Fall Festival and the 5th World Haiku Association Conference 2009 by Kornelijus Platelis, Chairman of the Board of the Druskininkai Poetic Fall.
The event took place on 30th September – 5th October in Vilnius and Druskininkai, Lithuania. There were hosted 121 participants from 23 countries.
The theme of the Festival was: Short Poetic Forms: Haiku.
Every participant had possibility to read 5 haikus twice: one time in Vilnius in two of three readings, one in Druskininkai in one of 6 readings. They read from the annual anthology Druskininkai Poetic Fall 2009 where were published 10 haikus by each participant in original language, English and Lithuanian translations. Everybody received the edition before the Conference in Vilnius.
The main outcome of the festival was the annual Anthology of the DPF with works by all the participants in original language, English and Lithuanian translation, and the Anthology of Lithuanian haiku. The haiku collection by Ban’ya Natsuishi in Japanese, English and Lithuanian was published in Tokyo on this occasion. There were published translations of many haikus by participants in culture weekly “Literatūra ir menas” (Literature and Art) before the festival in order to promote the festival and haiku writing in general. The description of the event together with works by all winners of competitions were published in the same weekly and other press after festival. Many Lithuanian poets who were not writing haiku before experienced the genre during festival and wrote many interesting haikus.
The Vilnius International Book Fair 2010
The Vilnius International Book Fair has become one of the significant cultural events in Lithuania.
At the Vilnius International Book Fair – 2010 there were presented literature and book publishing as well as other fields of cultural and public life of Lithuania. The estimated number of Vilnius Book Fair visitors this year was 59200: Thursday – 9100, Friday – 16200, Saturday – 19300, Sunday -14600.
The group of the most prominent foreign stars included Jostein Gaarder (the author of the novel Sophia’s World), Melvin Burgess (the author of the books for young people The Junk, Lady: My Life as a Bitch, Doing It, etc.), Joanne Harris (the author of the novels The Chocolate, Five Quarters of the Orange, The Lollipop Shoes), Simon Sebag Montefiore (the British historian, author of the book Young Stalin), Mark Solonin (the Russian historian, author of the book June 22: Anatomy of a Catastrophe), etc.
A few famous scholars came to the book fair. Including Alfonsas Lingys, world-know American anthropologist of Lithuanian origin – a personality Lithuania can and should be proud of.
The most creative book of the year was elected by the Lithuanian Literature and Folklore Institute.
This year, out of 12 books selected at the first stage of the competition, literature scholars from the Lithuanian Literature and Folklore Institute announced the biographic writings “Mes gyvenome” by Marcelijus Martinaitis (published by the Publishing House of the Lithuanian Writers Union) as the most creative book of 2009.
250 participants from six countries took part in this book fair.
At the Vilnius International Book Fair – 2010 were held 200 cultural events and 14 foreign writers and 80 Lithuanian writers were presented. 56 000 visitors attended the Vilnius International Book Fair – 2010 and 240 participants from 12 countries took a part in it.
Winners of the Book of the Year Election were announced at Vilnius Book Fair.
The Book of the Year Election was organised by the Lithuanian Radio and Television, Ministry of Culture and Lithuanian National Martynas Mažvydas Library.
Spring of Poetry – 2009
The most prominent annual literature event in Lithuania, arranged by the Writers Union. Here the creative works are read by the Lithuanian and foreign poets with participation of actors, singers, musicians and painters. On the eve of the Festival the literary miscellany of the new poems, translations of poetry and essays “Spring of Poetry” is being published. The SPRING OF POETRY laureate was traditionally crowned in Kaunas, and the finale of the festivity was held at the Main Courtyard of Vilnius University.Festival went beyond the space and time boarders and there were readings under the umbrella of International festival Poetry Spring 2009 in Germany, Ireland, Poland and Belgium.
THE LITHUANIAN WRITERS’ UNION during 2009 was presented as a member of international associations in literary events:
THE LITHUANIAN WRITERS’ UNION participated in Forum MARE NOSTRUM V, 19-20 June 2009, Marseille, France and “EWC-FAEE” ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY – XXIII EWC Congress 21 June 2009.
The Forum MARE NOSTRUM V is a conference organised by the European Writers’ Council (EWC-FAEE) in cooperation with the Société des Gens de Lettres (SGDL, France), with the support of the European Commission Education and Culture DG, and SOFIA (France). Marseille was chosen as a symbol of the crossroads of cultures, as a region that is important in foundation of European culture. The themes chosen for the Forum Mare Nostrum V were exploring the crossroads between literature of the Europe of the Mediterranean, expanding towards Africa and the Middle-East.
THE LITHUANIAN WRITERS’ UNION also participated in First EWC European Seminar for Authors’ organisations, in November 18-20 in Brussells – a project sponsored by the Authors’ Licensing Collecting Society – ALCS (UK) and organised by the European Writers’ Council
(Brussels). The specific needs that national authors’ associations in the different areas of authors’ rights were discussed and the ways the national authors’ associations may interact and intervene in the pre-legislation and consultation hearings. Also some issues on digitalization and globalization were reflected in the meeting.
There are some ideas that were proposed from Lithuanian position at this meeting:
The respect to the authors rights is connected to a very special care that should be taken of every small language and its creativity in general. In such a small country as Lithuania the very special care should be taken to a Lithuanian language as very tiny language among big nations (we are less than 1% of all the people living in the European Union).
The author has the exclusive right of distribution. The author has an exclusive right to authorise or prohibit the distribution of the original or copies.
The right of distribution shall be exhausted where the first sale takes place. The lending right shall not be exhausted by any sale or other act of distribution of originals. The same is with copies of copyright works and other subject matter.
But at this time the authors receive no remuneration at all for the loan of their works and no remuneration for the Blank tape levy. There is no good reason for this because the Lithuanian copyright law holds the principle that each use of a protected work should imply an equitable remuneration to the rightholder.
Blank tape levy is not payable in Lithuania. The main arguments for this were: difficulties in providing access to culture and the additional costs of copying machines and IT.
Blank tape levy should be considered as a part of cultural policy to promote and develop creative works by authors in the Lithuanian language. Half of the sum may be paid directly to authors; the other half may be distributed as scholarships.
Some money is distributed via Foundation for support Culture, Art, publishing and sport. Usually some money directly goes to the publishing houses, not to the authors and they get nothing form this money only an advantage in the publishing against those books who have not got such a grant.
There are the scholarships awarded to some authors, but these authors are forced “to ask” for a scholarship disregarding the idea that the authors have the right to get this money.
The majority of scholarships go to writers. The money is allocated by the Lithuanian ministry of Culture. There are three kinds of scholarships – personal scholarship, state scholarship, educational scholarship. The first type goes up to 3.000 Euros annually.
The rightholders in Lithuania are not satisfied by the remuneration in the form of scholarships and the tariffs of grants for publishing as set forth by the federal authorities and they concern the system of remuneration as insufficient and unfair. The rightholders continue to lobby in order to obtain tariffs in accordance with the equitable remuneration of rightholders.
Mr. Bleicher-Nagelsmann presented the report from the German Writers’ Union.
This year the EUROPEAN UNION PRIZE FOR LITERATURE (FICTION) will be awarded for the second time. The jury in Germany will work under the presidency of Imre Török, President of the GWU. The nominees have to be named until the end of May. Germany is one of 12 countries to give their nomination for an emerging author.
As reported last year the German Writers Union (Verband deutscher Schriftsteller VS in ver.di) had seized the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2008 to announce and carry out a literary writing contest for young people. Three top winners had been invited to the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the GWU (see below). The documentation containing selected works has been produced meanwhile and met great interest and recognition.
In the ver.di training-centre “Clara Sahlberg” in Berlin a joint event of the training-centre and the GWU has taken place in June 2009 for the fourth time on the subject. “Literature and politics”. After writers like Heine, Berlach and Borchert with their works had been discussed during the past years in this time was about “Writing women and their invention in politics”. We reminded of authors, feminists, pacifists and socialists who made important contributions to the liberation of the woman and to the engagement in politics. The life achievement of women of the trade union movement as well as the movement of the workers and female workers, but also from liberal, aristocratic or middle-class circles was appreciated.
Already end the end of 18th Century the “declaration of the rights of the woman and citizen” was published among other things is stated: “The woman is freely born and remains to the man immediately in all rights” (Olympe de Gouges). However, up to the realisation of equal rights, women’s franchise, political activity is still a way which is not concluded till today. Only the revolution in 1918/19 brought a determining step. It was especially pleasant for the organizers that also new colleagues who had not taken part up to now in the conferences, found their way to the training centre. In April a publication of the contributions will be available like in the precursor’s events. Information about the books of the last events and this years seminar can be found under: HYPERLINK “http://vs.verdi.de/literatur” http://vs.verdi.de/literatur.
Frankfurt Book Fair from 14th-18th of October 2009 was a successful highlight for the GWU activities. In the joint booth of GWU, PEN and German Literature Fund Chinese literature and the meeting with critical authors was a main topic. Every day there was an hour of information with critical writers and journalists. Imre Török President of GWU, Regine Möbius Vice President and Heinrich Bleicher-Nagelsmann had a conversation with the authors of the famous study to the situation of the farmers. It was also discussed how GWU could support Chinese writers and built up communication structures.
In the International Centre the Africa activities of the GWU were continued under the subject “Africa and Europe – dialogue at eye level?” In this event in cooperation with the Foreign Office Imre Török, the Dutch author Jan van Dis and Atukwei Okai the chairperson of the PAN African Author’s Association (PAWA) discussed about the possibilities, literature offers around a common discussion and exchange process to promote.
A special joy for the GWU was that our member Katrin Schmidt became the winner of the German Book Price in 2009. During her reading opposite the GWY booth Imre Török and Regine Möbius could congratulate Kathrin Schmidt personally.
Climax for the GWU last year was the conference to the 40th anniversary of the GWU under the title “Velvet and digital Revolution – the year Germany changed and future challenges” on the 11th/12th of November 2009 in Berlin. Moreover for the first time since his term of Office we could welcome the Minister of State for culture and media, Bernd Neumann in the ver.di-headquarters. In his welcoming address the state minister found exceptionally laudatory words for the work of GWU during the past years and promised his continuing support in particular in question of the copyright (headword Google).
The literary festival event on the 11th November 2009 which was opened by the presiding Imre Török was no navel-gazing but discussed the events of the fall of the Wall 20 years ago with the consequences for the political and literary development in Germany and Europe. In two panels with the writers Erich Loest, Artur Becker, Pavel Kohout as well as Ines Geipel, Josef Haslinger and Katja Lange-Müller as participants discussed the subject. Ver.di Vice President Frank Werneke congratulated the GWU on its work and put forward in particular the good common work of the last years in particular in questions of the authors rights. Another subject of his address were, however, also the topical political and trade union-political challenges.
The second day of the conference was dedicated to these challenges under the main focus “Digitalisation and authors rights”. After the opening by the art and cultural representative of ver.di Regine Möbius, experts reported and discussed under skilled presentation of the GWU members Gerlinde Schermer-Rauwolf and Matthias Mahla with the numerously represented professional audience. Further information to the event which has also run as a background report in the ver.di strike TV, ( HYPERLINK “http://www.streik.tv/node/766” http://www.streik.tv/node/766). Further information to the congress is found under HYPERLINK “https://versusverdi.de/wer-sind-wir/vs-geschihte/40-jahre-vs/vs-jubilaeum” https://versusverdi.de/wer-sind-wir/vs-geschihte/40-jahre-vs/vs-jubilaeum.
Few days ago the GWU could carry on a public debate for author’s rights at the Leipzig book fair extremely successfully. A young author who stood on the proposal list for the Leipzig book price felt put out rightly to the preface of plagiarism. As a result the GWU initiated a signature campaign about authors’ rights and digital production. The so called “Leipzig Declaration” signed by Nobel Prize Laureate Günter Grass among others attracted big attention in the media and pointed out the danger for copyright misused in the public consciousness. Moreover information is found under HYPERLINK “https://vs.verdi.de/urheberrecht/aktielles/leipziger-erklaerung” https://vs.verdi.de/urheberrecht/aktielles/leipziger-erklaerung.
Ms. Treimane presented the Latvian report.
Latvian Writers’ Union unites some 300 poets, prose writers, playwrights, literary scholars and historians, critics and translators.
Digital issues and the Internet are important, even more so because of the digitalization project launched by the Latvian National Library recently.
3 main annual projects supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation have been in focus: the Annual Literary Prize, the Annual Poetry Days Festival (over 30 different events around Latvia with invited guests – well-known poets from abroad) in September, and the program Literary Academy: courses of lectures, seminars and master-classes for those eager to go in for prose, poetry and drama. Unfortunately, due to the budget cuts, the State Culture Capital Foundation is in grave jeopardy right now, so all of the main activities of Latvian Writers’ Union currently seem endangered.
About the Literary Academy I have already told in the reports of previous years /see the Minutes/.
The severe reduction of the state budget in Latvia endangers almost
everything already achieved in the field of Latvian national literature and
culture so far. This means the end for plenty of events (contests, prizes,
festivals etc.), organizations, publishing houses, and – most of all – the
professional literature.
For Latvian Writers’ Union it means almost complete standstill, no progress can be made and the established activities seem impossible next year (2010): no Poetry Days, no Annual Literary Prizes and no Literary Academy. Still, Latvian Writers’ Union is seeking for some alternative ways to maintain the projects: it is easy to destroy a tradition than to revive it after some time.
In 2009 the Literary Academy did not get financing for all the programmes – only for the minor ones: for master-classes and for the seminar for beginners. The master-classes and lectures were announced for participation fee, but not everyone could afford it – the fee was 372 Ls.
The State Culture Capital Foundation gives little support for Writers’ Creative Work in writers’ residence in Dubulti, Jurmala.
About Ventspils House – now so popular not only in Latvia but also abroad – /see the Minutes of previous years/.
In 2009 85 writers and translators from different countries have stayed there.
The activities of Ventspils House have been expanding during 2009. 30 different activities not only in the House, but also in Ventspils town have taken place organized by the House: prose readings, poetry days, concerts and different events concerning literature and translation. E. g., literary contest “Wake the Word” (together with Ventspils library) – is one of the new projects. The master-class – with poets from Catalonia, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania – in translating poetry took place in November at Ventspils House.
Tor Tveite from Norway:
The Norwegian Association of Literary Translators (NO) was founded in 1948, and is today one of four bodies organising translators in Norway. The Association has 297 members translating from altogether 48 languages.
General activities, negotiations and policy making
The artists’ associations in Norway cooperate in order to improve the conditions for freelancers in regard to taxes and social security. NO has sent a letter to the Ministry of Labour demanding that a section of the law of social security be changed in order to improve the social security benefits for freelancers, as have 35 other organisations.
We are still negotiating a contract for the use of translations in “Tanum book clubs”, a result of the merger of two of Norway’s largest publishing houses, Cappelen (owned by Bonnier) and Damm (owned by Egmont).
Our negotiations with Pocketforlaget have as yet not been concluded. NO and NFF (The Norwegian Non-fiction Writers’ and Translators’ Association) recognise the need for a general agreement about translations that are published by a publisher other than the one with which the translator has signed a contract.
An English translation of the standard contract with the publisher’s association (2006) can be found on HYPERLINK “http://oversetterforeningen.no/media/Standard_contract_translations.pdf” http://oversetterforeningen.no/media/Standard_contract_translations.pdf
Training and membership benefits
The annual three day autumn seminar was attended by 86 members.
In order to improve the general quality of a translator’s work, members and non-members can now apply to have 100 pages of a manuscript examined by an NO member, this member receiving payment for his or her work from NO.
The one year course Flerstemt (‘Polyphony’) for potential translators from various immigrant languages is being held for the third time, with 15 students translating from Chinese, Polish and Urdu participating.
NO contributed to NORLA’s international translators’ conference in May 2009.
The website www.nettverkstedet.no, run in collaboration with the other translators’ associations, has been up and running since 2002. This virtual workshop offers various services, including online access to encyclopaedias and all the main Norwegian dictionaries, various essays and a lot more.
Visibility
In March 2010, NO and NFF arranged Oversatte dager (‘Translated Days’), a three-day event at the House of Literature in Oslo focusing on several different aspects of translation, with discussions, lectures, concerts, translated food, speed dating for translators and editors etc. The seminar Verden på norsk (‘The world in Norwegian’), primarily aimed at librarians and organised in cooperation with Oslo’s municipal library, was also part of this event.
The association contributed to the “translator’s hour” at the annual Norwegian Festival of Literature in Lillehammer.
NO organised an open seminar at the House of Literature in connection with CEATL’s meeting in Oslo: Out of the shadows. The social position of the translator.
A “Mini guide to the Norwegian literary system” was published by NO, Norwegian Authors’ Union, Norwegian Writers for Children and Writers’ Guild of Norway.
As usual NO’s annual translation prize Bastian was awarded in two categories.
International
NO is a member of CEATL (Conseil Européen des Associations de Traducteurs Littéraires), the EWC (European Writers’ Congress), the Three Seas Writers’ and Translators’ Council, the Baltic Writers’ and Translators’ Council and the FIT.
NO arranged CEATL’s meeting in Oslo in June 2009.
Internationally NO is engaged in projects in Palestine and Georgia.
Three reports from Finland followed. First Hannu Niklander from the Union of Finnish Writers.
BACKGROUND
The Union of Finnish Writers, founded in 1897, is an organisation of Finnish-language fiction writers. There were 600 members at the end of 2009. Finland is a bi-lingual country. 91% of the population is Finnish-speaking, 5.5% Swedish-speaking, 0.05% Sami-speaking and 3.45% other languages. The chairman of the Union is Tuula-Liina Varis, author, and the executive director is Päivi Liedes.
GENERAL
Copyright legislation, and in particular that part concerning the possible need for amendments in publishing contracts, has been handled by the Copyright Commission appointed by the Ministry of Culture. A new Commission will continue that work with new members in 2010. It is regrettable that the Finnish right-wing government strongly supports the business world in this matter. Even the chairman of the Commission, when handing its deliberations to the Minister of Culture and Sport, stated prejudicially that “the author’s party is insisting that the author is the weaker party to a contract”. But we are!
Since 2004 the struggle for authors’ rights hardened between authors, on the one hand, and copyright users such as publishers, the Finnish Broadcasting Company and technology companies, for example, Nokia, on the other. The writers, naturally, try tooth and nail to hold on to their sole rights and freedom of contract. The users are grasping at transfer rights and conversion rights by virtue of the law (ipso jure). And then there is the new Pirate party and the increasing strengthening of the free Internet connections, which demand the free distribution and use of works.
The Finnish Broadcasting Company, which is a public service company and funded by the state, wants to expand its activities to the Internet and mobile TV. But it is most reluctant to pay the writers anything. The Finnish Broadcasting Company changed over completely to digital technology in autumn 2006. This in part has enabled the expanded and multiple use of programmes, but at the same time has led to difficult contract negotiations.
Pension entitlement from the grants came into force at the beginning of 2009. All work grants, which have been awarded for at least 4 months work and are at least 4,000 euro, are subject to compulsory pension insurance. The insurance also includes accident and sick insurance for the duration of the grant. Insurance has been issued 1200 times during the year. Because the insurance is not retroactive, its significance from the perspective of pension security will not be seen until about 2020.
BOOK TRADE
Google’s aspirations to world domination have finally awakened Finnish publishers to the world of e-books, even though the e-Readers are still not widely on sale in Finland. The biggest publishers have also tried to get the e-book rights of the books on the backlist for themselves at the same time as new companies operating solely in the e-book field have been founded in Finland. Competition over the rights is welcome because presumably it can raise e-book royalties. The Union of Finnish Writers has negotiated an e-book royalty with the biggest publishers, which is, depending on sales, about 30 – 40% of the publishers’ sales price.
At the demand of the Finnish Book Publishers Association, the Union of Finnish Writers has negotiated frame contracts separately with each publisher since the 1990s. The Finnish Book Publishers Association has not appealed to the competition law in negotiations. Last year when the negotiations concerning a new contract with the third largest publisher, Tammi, owned by Bonnier the Swedish communications company, were in the final straight and we were pressing for percentages we were shown the door. Immediately afterwards we received a message from the Finnish Book Publishers Association stating that their publishers would no longer make illegal, that is, contrary to the competition law, agreements with us. In the opinion of the Union of Finnish Writers the competition law does not forbid frame contracts because writers are their own brand and do not compete with each other. We are, therefore, in a slightly strange position, especially since the then chairman of the Finnish Book Publishers Association rushed to let us know that that decision would not affect the contract relationships between us and her publishing house.
According to the amendment in the Copyright Act that came into effect in 2007, Public Lending Right compensation for authors was still not being paid by the end of the year 2009 owing to problems in the preliminary stage of the system. The amount from the first year is 2 million euro. PLR compensation for authors is handled in Finland by Sanasto, the joint copyright organisation of writers and translators: www.sanasto.fi
Then Jukka-Pekka Pietiäinen from the Non-Fiction Writers:
The Internet has been affecting sales of non-fiction for some years now. The potential for publishing encyclopaedias and reference books is virtually non-existent in a country such as Finland with a small population.
The economic recession beginning in autumn 2008 likewise caused a significant drop in sales of non-fiction in 2009. High-street sales of non-fiction were down more than three per cent and those of the biggest publishers as much as seven per cent or more. The publishers released fewer titles and dismissed or laid off staff.
Yet almost all the literary debate in autumn 2009 was about non-fiction books. Examples were the history of the security police, a biography of the writer Paavo Haavikko that aroused conflicts between the biographer and Haavikko’s close family, and a bleak biography of Pekka Herlin, owner of the elevator company Kone, candidly revealing the dark sides of his character: drink and the suffering he caused his family.
Possibly the most startling aspect was that the book had been commissioned by Kone and that Herlin’s children openly joined in the discussion around it. The Herlins are one of the richest families in Finland and some of them also own Cargotec, the world’s leading provider of cargo handling solutions. One of the sons is a prominent journalist and publisher and another is a big name in the protection of the Baltic Sea. The daughters are great patrons of the arts.
The Tieto-Finlandia Prize for non-fiction went to Henrika Tandefelt for a book called Porvoo 1809(Borgå 1809) describing customs and festivities at the Porvoo Diet of 1809. In that year Finland passed from Swedish rule to the Russian Empire, where it became an Autonomous Grand Duchy. The winners of the sizeable Warelius Prize awarded to Finnish non-fiction writers were Risto Isomäki and Irma Sulkunen.
The year was one of hostilities on the copyright front. The unreasonable terms imposed by Sanoma News on freelance journalists led to a demonstration by over 30 unions. The Market Court rejected the journalists’ demands but the legal process continues. In the autumn the unions succeeded in preventing the proposed employer’s rule. The debate on chapter 3 of the Copyright Law continues; the Copyright Committee published its report in February 2010 and this is now being circulated for comments. In February a forum was set up by 30 organisations to act as a joint organ for authors and performers.
The Finnish Association of Non-fiction Writers now has 2,500 members and is busier than ever. Since more than two-thirds of all non-fiction in Finland is published by non-professionals, the Association has recognised a need to arrange training to improve writers’ command of independent publishing, either as a business or in some other way.
The Association is in the process of formulating a policy for lobbying the government and politicians before the next Parliamentary elections in March 2011. The aim is persuade the next government to write into its programme a Ministry of Education initiative covering non-fiction and textbooks over the next few years.
International cooperation was brisk. In summer 2009 the Association’s Chairperson, Dr Pirjo Hiidenmaa, was elected also the Chairperson to the European Writers’ Council for the two-year period 2009-2011.
And then Jaana Nikula from the Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters:
The field of translation and interpreting is under constant change. Increasing demands are placed on practitioners’ knowledge and skills; in order to succeed in the fiercer competition and tougher working environment, they must have solid competence, up-to-date know-how and a professional attitude to their work. To support this goal, the Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters has provided its members with diverse supplementary training intended to maintain and develop their professional skills. The training offered by the Association is of primary importance since there are few other courses where working translators can augment and further their competence.
As a cultural organization in the field of literature, the Association has monitored the cultural policy pursued by the State and municipalities and, as necessary, has taken a stand on current trends.
Together with other cultural organizations, the Association has also contributed to cooperation projects that have striven to influence this policy. The goal of the Association’s own training efforts has been, for instance, to maintain the high artistic standard of Finnish translations of literature and to raise this standard even higher. One way to meet this goal has been by arranging intensive workshops for translators. In 2009, one workshop was arranged for translators of Swedish literature in May, and one for translators of German literature in October-November.
Despite increased workloads and additional requirements in the sector, the rates paid to translators have not risen nor have working conditions improved. Clients seek savings by
subjecting translation services to competitive tendering. Often this also means that
stricter conditions are placed on the work. Some initiatives have emerged within the Association to improve the situation: During the year, translators of literature launched a campaign on their low fees.
The Act on pension provision for grant holders entered into force at the start of the year. The Act also applies to literature translators. The provision of pensions is organized through the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution (MELA).
The visibility campaign for translators of literature, launched in 2007, was continued by arranging two literary evenings under the heading The Translator’s Voice in cooperation with the restaurant of KOM Theatre. On these occasions, translators talked about their work and answered questions posed by the audience. By granting the second Translator’s Rose prize, the Association also raised the visibility of translators of scientific, technical and commercial texts.
The Association has supported its members’ coping and well-being at work by giving them the opportunity to take part in rehabilitation courses and in fitness and activity holidays. The rehabilitation course, arranged in cooperation with the Social Insurance Institution, was the third of its kind and started in March at Petrea rehabilitation institute in Turku. The fitness and activity holiday was organised together with the Union of Journalists in Finland. It was supported by the MTLH Association and Finland’s Slot Machine Association (RAY) and took place at Siuntio Wellness Centre in April.
The Chairperson Ms. Orlov presented the Swedish report.
As with the previous year, 2009 proved to be a very active one for The Swedish Writers’ Union. For one thing, and as mentioned in last year’s report, The Committee of Inquiry on Cultural Policy put forward their long awaited report to the government in early March 2009. Fearing that The Swedish Authors’ Fund was to be merged with three other administrative institutions and committees from the arts field to create a single public authority it was later settled, and after some controversy and debate, that the author’s fund should remain autonomous. Other aspects deriving from the report including preliminary changes within the economic support system for book distribution and the publication of independent cultural magazines have also been heavily criticized by the union. In accordance to this The Swedish Writers’ Union recently published a list of demands for a lasting cultural policy within the field of literature, working to promote among other things viable conditions for writers and literary translators while also making literature in all its forms more publicly accessible (libraries, digitization etc.).
Although the Google settlement was much criticized The Swedish Writers’ Union found no apparent reason to advice its members against it, though however The Swedish Publishers’ Association took an opposite standpoint.
During late spring The Swedish Writers’ Union launched a campaign for encouraging its members to reclaim all their copyrighted material (i.e material not currently in print) from the publishers in order to increase the copyright owners’ position on the literary market, one of the backgrounds being many publishers’ recent claims for controlling every thinkable (and non-thinkable even) form of publication, present or future. As a countermeasure The Swedish Writers’ Union later launched “Dejavu”, a digital publishing service (print on demand) for out of print titles, with the aim to preserve Swedish literature and make it accessible to all. The service is available to all, though first and foremost to the members of the writers’ union.
Two years ago (April 2008) the Swedish government appointed a special commission in order to survey any necessary changes within the present copyright law. One part of the assignment has been to appoint an inquiry to review the Copyright Act on the basis of whether there is a need to strengthen the author’s status as a contracting party. The mission aimed to specifically review the third chapter on copyright transfer and the regulations on so-called extended collective licenses. An official report, including a new law proposal, will be made public on April 8 2010.
Further more, and in the wake of a missing frame work agreement, the writers’ union has in spite of this settled a series of renewed mutual agreements with major Swedish publishing houses (all except for Bonniers who choose to withdraw due to the previously mentioned launch of “Dejavu”), the Royal Library and the Swedish broadcasting company SVT. In all the new agreements point towards the strengthening and the continuation of mutual dialogue between the publishers and the writers’ community, much needed in a changing time like this. At present there is still no sign for resuming the interrupted negotiations with Bonniers.
In passing it should be noted that WALTIC will be organized in Istanbul between 2 and 5 September 2010. For more info, please visit www.waltic.com.
14) Mr. Liedtke presented the Baltic Virtual Library project. There are three technicians, eleven editors and a board of five members involved with the project which was launched January 1st 2010 and will continue till 2012. Nordic Council has supported the project with 39825 euros and Nordic Culture Point with 50000 euros. The aim is to make the fragments of Baltic region’s literature visible and known in translations. The result will be a kind of mosaic of texts from medieval times to present. The project will be executed in co-operation with Ventspils House, Goethe Institute among others.
15) Election of board members and auditors. Ms. Treimane was re-elected Treasurer and Ms. Nikula Secretary. Jukka-Pekka Pietiäinen (substitute Hannu Niklander) and Lars Magnus Lahne (substitute Lena Pasternak) were elected Auditors.
16) The membership fee will be 150 euros for all members. The invoices will be sent after GA and are to be paid by the end of May. If necessary reminders will be sent in September. In 2011 the invoices will be sent in the beginning of January and they must be paid before the GA of 2011. Those who have not paid are not allowed to vote.
17) Date of the next GA is April 1-2 2011.
The session and the GA was closed at 16:55.
Janina Orlov
Chairperson
Jaana Nikula
Secretary
Appendix 1
The Baltic Writers’ Council
PREAMBLE TO STATUTES
The Baltic Writers Council is a multinational, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, open to all writers’ and translators’ unions in the Baltic area, defined as Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden.
PROPOSED CHANGE: […] the Baltic area, defined as Belarus, Denmark, Estonia […]
Supranational organisations (e.g. Sami) and parallel organisations (e.g. the Centre for Writers and Translators at Rhodes, Greece) as well as UNESCO, may be invited to take part in the activities of the Baltic Writers’ Council.
PROPOSED CHANGE: Other organisations may also be invited to take part in the activities of the Baltic Writers’ Council.
The member organisations of the Baltic Writers’ Council –
realizing the commitment that writers and translators have to the promotion of democracy, peace and freedom of expression,
recognizing the rights of all people in the Baltic area, regardless of the level of their political, social and economic development, to pursue the ideals of participatory democracy, to develop their languages, cultures and literatures in freedom, and to profit from each others’ experiences and accomplishment,
appreciating that organisations in the international field such as UNESCO have a mandate to achieve the aims and objectives above, and that many organisations of writers and translators are pursuing these goals,
noting that there is room for another international forum to promote the unity of the human family out of the diversity of concerns and interests to ensure a dignified future for the written word in the Baltic area,
have adopted the following statues:
Article I: Foundation
The Baltic Writers’ Council (hereinafter: the BWC) was founded as a result of the Baltic Waves’ Cruise in 1992. Its preliminary constitution was signed by the following organisations: The Danish Writers’ Association, The Estonian Writers’ Union, The Finnish Writers’ Union, the Society of Swedish Writers in Finland, The Union of Finnish Translators and Interpreters, The German Writers’ Union (within the Media Union), The Writers’ Union of Latvia, The Lithuanian Writers’ Union, The Norwegian Authors’ Union, The Norwegian Playwrights’ Association, The Norwegian Association of Writers for Children and Young People, The Norwegian Association for Literary Translators, The Norwegian Association of Non-fiction Writers and Translators, The Association of Polish Writers, The Writers’ Union of S:t Petersburg, Russia, The Swedish Writers’ Union.
Article II: Objects of the BWC
1) to promote the free flow of ideas and information between the Baltic writers’ and translators’ organisations;
2) to provide a meeting place for the representatives of those organisations.
Article III: Life of the BWC
No terms is set to the life of the Council.
Article IV: Headquarters
The headquarters of the BWC shall be in Visby, Gotland, Sweden. The headquarters may be changed by a decision of the General Assembly of the BWC, taken by a two thirds majority vote.
The BWC shall support and inspire the activities and co-ordinate the international relations of the Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators (hereinafter: the BCWT) in Visby, Gotland, Sweden – this Centre having been granted, in 1996, UNESCO-status as an international cultural body.
Relations between the BWC and the BCWT are regulated in an addendum to these statutes, this addendum being open to annual revision.
Article V: Membership
The BWC shall consist of:
1) national organisations approved of by the General Assembly of the BWC;
2) supranational and international organisations approved of by the General Assembly of the BWC.
PROPOSED CHANGE: The BWC shall consist of writers’ and translators’ unions in the Baltic area (defined as Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden), approved of by the BWC. The BWC also has the right to accept
organisations from outside the Baltic area, as well as international organisations, if the General Assembly considers the organisation in question suitable to be a member.
Article VI: Organs of the BWC
The organs of the BWC shall be the General Assembly and the Board of the BWC.
Article VII: General Assembly
The General Assembly (hereinafter: the GA) shall consist of all the members of theCouncil. It shall convene annually at the BCWT, Visby, Sweden.
The GA shall:
1) be the sole authority for the admission to the BWC of new members;
2) elect its Board (Executive Committee), its Chairperson and two auditors, one of which representing the BWC;
3) approve the commitments of the previous year, adopt the budget for the following year and have the authority in all matters regarding the operation of the BWC and the accomplishment of the tasks for which the latter was created;
4) give the countries represented in the BWC one vote each, irrespectively of the number of organisations taking part in the work of the BWC;
5) be presided over by the Chairperson who convened it or, if for any reason this is not possible, by the elected Vice-chairperson. If neither the Chairperson nor the Vice-chairperson can preside, the GA shall elect its own Chairperson for the session.
PROPOSED CHANGE: 4) give the countries represented in the BWC two votes each, irrespectively of the number of organisations taking part in the work of the BWC;
COMMENT: Three different proposals for change were discussed by the committee: 1) a maximum of two votes per country; 2) one vote per organisation; 3) from one to five votes per organisation depending upon the size (e.g. amount of members) of the organisation.
Article VIII: The Board of the BWC
The Board of the BWC is elected by its GA for a two-year mandate. The Board shall consist of five members, choosing among themselves secretary and Vice-chairperson. Two members of the Board are elected in years of equal numbers and three in years of unequal numbers.
The Board shall:
1) direct the activities of the BWC on the grounds proposed by its GA;
2) be the administrative link between the BWC and the BCWT;
3) investigate the possibilities of supranational literary organisations, as well as international ones, to become members of the BWC upon application;
4) prepare the agenda for the GA, after consulting the member organisations;
5) ensure the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the GA of the BWC.
Article IX: Co-operation with other organisations
For the execution of its task, the BWC shall have recourse:
1) to all member organisations;
2) to groups of national literary committees in the Baltic area;
3) to national committees for UNESCO
4) to national organisations with which it has entered or may enter into relation.
The BWC may conclude agreements with such above mentioned bodies, which agreements shall be drafted by authority of the Board and shall enter into force on approval by the GA.
Article X: Working Commissions
The BWC may initiate projects to be carried out amongst itself, its member organisations or by working commissions regardless of their membership of the Council. Each project shall result in a report to the BWC.
Article XI: Budget
The financial resources of the BWC shall be derived from:
1) contributions by member organisations, at an amount unanimously decided upon by the GA;
2) grants by international organisations, inter-governmental bodies or public bodies;
3) legacies or grants from private bodies or persons in the Baltic area.
Article XII: Amendments of the statutes
Proposals to amend these statutes shall be forwarded in writing to the Board of the BWC, which shall decide whether or not to call an extraordinary session of the GA to consider the matter.
Article XIII: Rules of the procedure
The detailed application of these statutes shall be laid down in Rules of Procedure which shall be submitted by the Board of the BWC to its GA.
ADDENDUM TO STATUTES
In accordance with the Statutes of the Baltic Writers’ Council (BWC), as adopted by the General Assembly in Visby, Febr. 22nd 1997, the BWC
RESOLVES that it is the aim of the BWC through its representatives
on the Board of the Baltic Centre of Writers and
Translators (BCWT) to, promote the truly international
(interregional) interests of the said Centre;
ELECTS two representatives, approved of by the General
Assembly of the BWC, to serve on the Board of the
BCWT on a two-year mandate, these representatives
being chosen from two different Baltic countries
PROPOSED CHANGE: […] these representatives being chosen from two different countries represented in the BWC.
EXPECTS from its representatives on the Board of the BCWT
reports on proposals for activities of the Centre;
COMMUNICATES with its members via the newsletter of the BCWT, the
Baltic News Centre.
PROPOSED CHANGE: The whole paragraph “COMMUNICATES” to be removed
Appendix 2
The Statutes
The Baltic Writers’ Council
PREAMBLE TO STATUTES
The Baltic Writers Council is a multinational, non‑profit, non‑governmental organisation, open to all writers’ and translators’ unions in the following countries: Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Island, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden.
Other organisations may also be invited to take part in the activities of the Baltic Writers’ Council.
The member organisations of the Baltic Writers’ Council ‑
realizing the commitment that writers and translators have to the promotion of democracy, peace and freedom of expression,
recognizing the rights of all people in the Baltic area, regardless of the level of their political, social and economic development, to pursue the ideals of participatory democracy, to develop their languages, cultures and literatures in freedom, and to profit from each others’ experiences and accomplishment,
appreciating that organisations in the international field such as UNESCO have a mandate to achieve the aims and objectives above, and that many organisations of writers and translators are pursuing these goals,
noting that there is room for another international forum to promote the unity of the human family out of the diversity of concerns and interests to ensure a dignified future for the written word in the Baltic area,
have adopted the following statues:
Article I: Foundation
The Baltic Writers’ Council (hereinafter: the BWC) was founded as a result of the Baltic Waves’ Cruise in 1992. Its preliminary constitution was signed by the following organisations: The Danish Writers’ Association, The Estonian Writers’ Union, The Finnish Writers’ Union, the Society of Swedish Writers in Finland, The Union of Finnish Translators and Interpreters, The German Writers’ Union (within the Media Union), The Writers’ Union of Iceland, Kaliningrad Writers’ Union, The Writers’ Union of Latvia, The Lithuanian Writers’ Union, The Norwegian Authors’ Union, The Norwegian Playwrights’ Association, The Norwegian Association of Writers for Children and Young People, The Norwegian Association for Literary Translators, The Norwegian Association of Non‑fiction Writers and Translators, The Association of Polish Writers, The Writers’ Union of St. Petersburg, Russia, The Swedish Writers’ Union.
Article II: Objects of the BWC
to promote the free flow of ideas and information between the Baltic writers’ and translators’ organisations:
to provide a meeting place for the representatives of those organisations.
to promote the cultural diversity in the spirit of UNESCO.
Article III: Life of the BWC
No terms is set to the life of the Council.
Article IV: Headquarters
The headquarters of the BWC shall be in Visby, Gotland, Sweden. The headquarters may be changed by a decision of the General Assembly of the BWC, taken by a two thirds majority vote.
The BWC shall support and inspire the activities and co‑ordinate the international relations of the Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators (hereinafter: the BCWT) in Visby, Gotland, Sweden ‑ this Centre having been granted, in 1996, UNESCO‑status as an international cultural body.
Relations between the BWC and the BCWT are regulated in an addendum to these statutes, this addendum being open to annual revision.
Article V: Membership
The BWC shall consist of writers’ and translators’ unions in the following countries: Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden approved by the BWC. The BWC also has the right to accept organisations from outside the Baltic area, as well as international organisations, if the General Assembly considers the organisation in question suitable to be a member.
Article VI: Organs of the BWC
The organs of the BWC shall be the General Assembly and the Board of the BWC.
Article VII: General Assembly
The General Assembly (hereinafter: the GA) shall consist of all the members of the
Council. It shall convene annually at the BCWT, Visby, Sweden.
The GA shall:
1) be the sole authority for the admission to the BWC of new members;
2) elect its Board (Executive Committee), its Chairperson and two auditors, one of which
representing the BWC;
3) approve the commitments of the previous year, adopt the budget for the following year and have the authority in all matters regarding the operation of the BWC and the accomplishment of the tasks for which the latter was created;
4) give the countries represented in the BWC two votes each, irrespectively of the number of organisations taking part in the work of the BWC;
5) be presided over by the Chairperson who convened it or, if for any reason this is not possible, by the elected Vice‑chairperson. If neither the Chairperson nor the Vice-chairperson can preside, the GA shall elect its own Chairperson for the session.
Article VIII: The Board of the BWC
The Board of the BWC is elected by its GA for a two‑year mandate. The Board shall
consist of five members, choosing among themselves secretary and Vice‑chairperson. Two
members of the Board being elected in years of equal numbers and three in years of
unequal numbers.
The Board shall:
1) direct the activities of the BWC on the grounds proposed by its GA;
2) be the administrative link between the BWC and the BCWT;
3) investigate the possibilities of supranational literary organisations, as well as
international ones, to become members of the BWC upon application;
4) prepare the agenda for the GA, after consulting the member organisations;
5) ensure the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the GA of the BWC.
Article IX: Co‑operation with other organisations
For the execution of its task, the BWC shall have recourse:
1) to all member organisations;
2) to groups of national literary committees in the Baltic area;
3) to national committees for UNESCO
4) to national organisations with which it has entered or may enter into relation.
The BWC may conclude agreements with such above mentioned bodies, which agreements shall be drafted by authority of the Board and shall enter into force on approval by the GA.
Article X: Working Commissions
The BWC may initiate projects to be carried out amongst itself, its member organisations or by working commissions regardless of their membership of the Council. Each project shall result in a report to the BWC.
Article XI: Budget
The financial resources of the BWC shall be derived from:
fees paid by member organisations, at an amount unanimously decided upon by the GA;
2) grants by international organisations, inter‑governmental bodies or public bodies; 3) legacies or grants from private bodies or persons in the Baltic area.
Article XII: Amendments of the statutes
Proposals to amend these statutes shall be forwarded in writing to the Board of the BWC, which shall decide whether or not to call an extraordinary session of the GA to consider the matter.
Article XIII: Rules of the procedure
The detailed application of these statutes shall be laid down in Rules of Procedure which shall be submitted by the Board of the BWC to its GA.