<\/p>\n
The Baltic Writers\u2019 Council General Assembly 2008 Visby, February 29 – March 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Minutes<\/em><\/p>\n Participants: Klaus-J\u00fcrgen Liedtke, Chairman, Baltic Writers\u2019 Council; Piret Viires, Estonian Writers\u2019 Union; Mudite Treimane, Latvian Writers\u2019 Union; Merete Jensen, Society of Swedish-Speaking Writers in Finland; Mikaela Sundstr\u00f6m, Society of Swedish-Speaking Writers in Finland; Helena Sinervo, Finnish Writers\u2019 Union; Kari Levola, Finnish Writers\u2019 Union; Jaana Nikula, Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters; Linas Rybelis, Lithuanian Association of Literary Translators; Igor Belov, Kaliningrad Writers\u2019 Union; Peter Curman, Swedish Writers\u2019 Union; Kajsa \u00d6berg Lindsten, Swedish Writers\u2019 Union; Karl Lindqvist, Swedish Writers\u2019 Union; Mats S\u00f6derlund, Swedish Writers\u2019 Union; Tor Tveite, Norwegian Association of Literary Translators; Heinrich Bleicher-Nagelsmann, German Writers\u2019 Union; Lena Pasternak, Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators; Lars Magnus Lahne, Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators. Alexandr Zhitinsky from Baltic Institute, St. Petersburg was virtually present on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n 1) The Chairman of the Council Klaus-J\u00fcrgen Liedtke opened the meeting at 18:05. The participants presented themselves.<\/p>\n 2) Following some changes in the order of items, the Agenda was approved by the Assembly. 3) Mr. Liedtke was elected Chairman of the Assembly and Ms. Nikula was elected Secretary. 4) The Chairman gave his report and presented the activity plan.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile translating the Swedish poet G\u00f6ran Sonnevi I thought of the network of ours, called Baltic Writers\u2019 Council: \u2018In the labyrinth of the network\u2019, he writes, \u2018all transports are possible. Those not yet carried out! As in an enormous crystal, the potential we do not know anything about.\u2019 (The Tree, p 138). Dealing with matters like ours we should never forget we are dealing with literature in the first case. On the other hand I feel the BWC has a potential like Sonnevi\u2019s poetry has: knitting us together, as we are readers of each other, potential readers. And as we are believers in the overwhelming force of literature we are also believers in the changing role and the cultural potential of the Baltic Sea as a stimulating link of our profession.<\/p>\n One of our potential activities in our strive to knit us together has been to organise the\u00a0Baltic Meetings<\/em>, and we have succeeded to arrange them first in Kaliningrad and its surroundings, the Oblast, in 2005, for the second time on Gotland with a focus on Visby in May 2007. Now we have to face an invitation by the City Administration of St. Petersburg for a Baltic Meeting in 2009, submitted by our member organisation, the Writers\u2019 Union of St. Petersburg. How shall we deal with this new challenge? It is waiting to be filled with life. Anyway, the successfully held Baltic Meetings stand for the Council\u2019s potential in visualizing and exploiting the Baltic dimension for the writers and translators of this region. And still, I quite often stumble over the notion that the\u00a0Baltic Meetings\u00a0<\/em>are sad to have been organised by the Baltic Centre (I just read our German colleague Richard Pietra\u00df\u2019 diary about his year in Liechtenstein, published last autumn:\u00a0Mit einem Bein in Liechtenstein\u00a0<\/em>where he writes that he receives an invitation by the Baltic Centre for the meetings in Kaliningrad where he joined us). This stems somehow from the fact that we are having quite a symbiotic relationship with the Centre from the very start. Does this mean that we have to make the work of ther Baltic Writers\u2019 Council more visible?<\/p>\n According to our statutes we are to develop the international side of the Baltic Centre in Visby. This is a limitation of our aims, but it also gives us the freedom to develop our network. I, nevertheless, think that we should strive to be more than just the Centre\u2019s international arm.<\/p>\n In what way for instance can we try to promote the international relations of the Centre when this is actually not really welcomed. One example: I have tried to intervene and build a bridge between the Baltic Centre in Visby and the new network Halma so that both Rhodes and Visby would be included. At their meeting in Plovdiv in October last year Rhodes was elected a member, as before Ventspils and K\u00e4smu and Nida, but Visby has not been interested. We really need to discuss whether our Council\u2019s goals should be seen in a broader framework than just being a vehicle to transport the Centre\u2019s international relations. We have had a correspondance with the Centre\u2019s board (letters from 13th December 2007, with an answer by Lars Magnus Lahne on 3rd Feb 2008) and agreed that our mutual relations should be analysed and put on a new basis. This concerns also our relationship to the Swedish National Arts\u2019 Council as the main body supplying the Centre with means for their annual budget. It has even happened that the BWC has applied for project money from the same Council, and they have been asking me why we could not get the money from the Centre.<\/p>\n But, back to the Baltic Meetings. First of all: How can we evaluate the Baltic Meetings? We have had some discussion inside the board if we should hold them every second, or every third year. Now we have to deal with the invitation from St. Petersburg, and as it was said, it concerns next year, and we will have to discuss if we can handle this challenge, financially and concerning manpower. Last year on Gotland we did succeed in gathering more than 60 participants, arranged phantastic discussions, esp. the final panel concerning both the individual needs of the writer and translator and the common network of different literary centres and houses around the Baltic Sea (Ahrenshoop, Nida, Ventspils, K\u00e4smu and Visby), and the reading on the evening before, and we arranged exciting excursions on the island of Gotland with meetings like that of Per Olov Enquist, Tor Eystein \u00d6veras and Andrey Bitov in Katthammarsvik. But media resonance has unfortunately been rather frustrating, especially the local ones and the radio. There was only one article before hand, and nothing appeared about the big opening. The same was the case for the Nordic Culture Parliament with which we cooperated. We ourselves have tried to fill the gap and publish a sort of documentation on our own homepage. For the preparatory work I want to thank especially Charlotta Bjelfvenstam and Hanna Sj\u00f6berg, we have really been a strong team. And to Lena Pasternak I want to say thanks for the cooperation at the very Centre, when we came here as guests.<\/p>\n In autumn at the Gothenburg Book Fair I met with Piret Viires (and even discussed with Lena Pasternak about common projects) and we held a mini-\u2018board meeting\u2019 conversing the possible EU applications. Culture program offers support for networks in EU. The restriction for us is that 10 EU- member states are needed. However, it could be possible that Iceland and Norway could be also eligible countries. Further information on this issue is needed and local CCP-s should be consulted.<\/p>\n The literature centres in Visby, Ventspils and K\u00e4smu are applying for a grant from the Culture program. The main focus are bursaries for writers. However, some literary events are also included in the project. Visby will try to include Baltic Writers\u2019 Council as an associate partner in the project and possibly apply for support for the General Assembly. In the whole project BWC is mentioned as a network and important actor in distributing information.<\/p>\n Piret Viires made a suggestion that we could consider the idea that a blog function or a forum could be added on BWC webpage www.balticring.org. It would be the easiest way to exchange the information and to substitute a planned newsletter.<\/p>\n After the meeting I consulted the CCP in Germany and received the answer that we count as 10 member countries represented by BWC. Together with Mikaela Sundstr\u00f6m a new application to Sida in Visby, submitted on 17th December 2007. The total sum for the preparatory work for Baltic Meetings in St. Petersburg goes up to 283 000 crowns. The decision came on 1st February, and although we were not rewarded, it has been a pleasure to cooperate with Mikaela!<\/p>\n The homepage was updated on 4th January, 2008 at Tesof in Berlin. It seems to me a very useful tool or platform for the realization of larger ideas because I have the notion of developing the BWC more into a working tool for authors and literary translators. But what we should develop is the blog idea Piret Viires talked about.<\/p>\n During the last weeks Jaana Nikula, our secretary, Mudite Treimane, our treasurer, and me have made a strong effort to activate our members in Poland, Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg. But there are no means anymore for travel grants from the Swedish Institute, which means that the members in practice have to pay for their own travels. Of course it would have been very useful to discuss with our Russian colleagues on spot, now we have with us only the leader of the Baltic Institute in St.Petersburg, Alexandr Zhitinsky virtually, he thus wants to follow our discussions via a site he has installed, where we should place our reports and he will comment on them.<\/p>\n Aims of the BWC<\/strong><\/p>\n – to visualize the diversity of the Baltic Sea Region and to strengthen its literature, in original and translation – to strengthen the network of our literary organisations When we need someone with whom we have to co-operate (writers for festivals, participants for conferences) \u2013 it\u2019s a good tool for finding useful contacts. It\u2019s the same as with European Writes\u2019 Congress – at first it is a network – and then all other stuff (autors\u2019 rights, cultural conferences etc.) will melt in<\/p>\n – a tool for information and co-operation These goals are not transported by the Baltic Centre in Visby! If we want to further develop our work, also beyond the Centre, we must find co-financing sources. Our input of voluntary work at least needs some certainty for planning into the future.<\/p>\n Activity program for the future<\/strong><\/p>\n The main issue is the question: How can we work for the closer co-operation of the workers in the field of literature in the Baltic region? In practice the steering work for the Baltic Meetings will be placed in Helsinki. – We have submitted an application from the Swedish Arts\u2019 Council (15\/2) which will be decided upon in Mid-March. The same application should also be submitted to Culture Contact, Nordic Council, Finland (30 April) under the Modul \u2018network funding\u2019.<\/p>\n – We plan meetings for the working group for St. Petersburg in May and for the board in autumn, both to be held in Helsinki – We plan to submit a pilot project application from Culture Contact, Nordic Council, Finland for an Editors\u2019 seminar for the launch of a virtual Baltic Sea Library under the modul \u2018capacity development, sharing of knowledge\u2019 (5 March). The seminar could be held in Autumn 2008 either in Ventspils, in Visby or Berlin (it has been submitted to the Halma network to be discussed in April).<\/p>\n Further on we plan another application for a short term project for the Virtual Baltic Sea Library including an employment programme for translators of Baltic Sea languages. To start with we will first have to put up a register of translators between our languages. The library is seen as a tool for establishing a common literary heritage of the Baltic Sea. To be included: literary sites (useful as a culture tourism database) and essays on the literary topography. Aim: strengthening cultural diversity in our own languages, i.e. all 11 mother tongues spoken and written around the Baltic Sea, without taking the roundabout way of English or Russian. – We plan a co-operation with Baltic Turn Table network (a network of networks) on environment questions (\u2018Landscape setting out\u2019), a final symposium to be held at K\u00fcnstlerhaus Lukas in Ahrenshoop in November 2009 (Letter of intent by Matts Hellstr\u00f6m) – We want to do a research on the possibilities on receiving means from EU structure funds, esp. the neighbourhood programme, for our old idea of gathering 12 writers on 12 islands of the Baltic and North Sea. This research will be done by our new fundraiser Petra Falkenberg in Berlin. She has helped us already with the application for the editors\u2019 seminar for the launch of a virtual Baltic Sea Library.\u201d<\/p>\n To conclude the Chairman thanked the Board members for their work.<\/p>\n Ms. Jensen pointed out that the Board of the Society of Swedish-Speaking Writers in Finland has to adopt the proposal of placing the steering work for Baltic Meetings in Helsinki. Mr. Curman remarked that in planning the future events the BWC should not rely merely on Swedish financing since the BWC is an international body and should try to get sources from every member-country.<\/p>\n 5) The Chairman of Swedish Writers\u2019 Union Mats S\u00f6derlund presented WALTIC (Writers\u2019 and Literary Translators International Congress) which will be held in Stockholm between 29 June and 2 July 2008.<\/p>\n More than one thousand writers and translators are expected to gather for a manifestation of the value of the words and in support of human rights. Hosted by the Swedish Writers\u2019 Union WAlTIC will focus on three urgent global issues: Literacy, Intercultural dialogue and Digitalisation. The program offers seminars, lectures and best practices. Among the speakers are famous writers and translators \u2013 an even number of men and women. In the year 2010 WALTIC 2 is planned to take place in Mozambique.<\/p>\n The Chairman suggested that the BWC should participate as best practise. The first session was ended at 19:40.<\/p>\n 6) The session was resumed at 9:40 on Saturday March 1st. Mr. Curman had left and was thus not present on Saturday and Sunday. Mr. Lahne arrived at 10:00.<\/p>\n The Treasurer Ms. Treimane gave her report and presented the budget proposal. A discussion followed. Ms. Viires pointed out that the travel expenses of the escorts travelling with the keynote speakers should not be paid in the future and the use of taxies ought to be limited. Mr. S\u00f6derlund deliberated upon sponsors. He mentioned publishing houses, paper mills and printing companies. Mr. Bleicher- Nagelsmann wondered how to cover the minus in the budget. As a solution he suggested that the membership fee should be in proportion to the number of members in each organization so that the larger organizations would pay more. Mr. Tveite found the budget extremely modest. Ms. Viires replied that the BWC has a long history but it has been a working body for only three years. Next year in preparing the budget all the suggestions presented by the GA will be taken into consideration by the Board.<\/p>\n 7) The Director of BCWT Ms. Pasternak gave her report. She emphasized the BCWT as a working place and a meeting point for writers and translators from the Baltic Sea region and if there is vacancy, from other countries as well. During 2007 the BCWT had 3074 guest nights and hosted 225 residing guests from 25 countries. Thanks to the specific funding from the EU programme Culture, Swedish Institute, Swedish General Consulate in Istanbul a number of bursaries could be granted to cover writers\u2019 and translators\u2019 travel and\/or living expenses. A number of bursaries earmarked for residence at the BCWT were granted by different countries and organizations to writers and translators personally by Estonian Writers\u2019 Union, Society of Swedish-Speaking Writers in Finland, Norwegian Writers Union, Latvian Cultural Fund etc. The Centre has served as premises for readings, Open Houses, meetings, receptions, dinners and study visits.<\/p>\n The question of sponsors has been discussed in the Board of BCWT. The Centre cannot be dependant on the local politicians since they are in office only a number of years. Also there is the dilemma of being free and acquiring funds at the same time. The Centre should be kept a \u201cbullshit-free zone\u201d as Ms. \u00d6berg Lindsten put it.<\/p>\n 8) The Auditors\u2019 Ms. Jensen and Mr. Lahne gave their report which they had jointly signed. The Board was granted freedom of responsibility but \u2013 once again \u2013 the Auditors remarked the Board on the Swedish stipulations concerning taxation of honoraries and per diem allowances. They also noted that VAT numbers must be included in all foreign invoices. Mr. S\u00f6derlund left at 12:50. The second session was ended at 13:00.<\/p>\n 9) The session was resumed at 14:40. Mr. Zhitinsky from St.Petersburg was on-line till the session ended.<\/p>\n The Chairman and Ms. Sundstr\u00f6m presented the concept of Baltic Meetings 2009 in St. Petersburg. The working group which is lead by Ms. Sundstr\u00f6m has seven members: Alexandr Zhitinsky, Ilya Fonyakov, Klaus-J\u00fcrgen Liedtke, Tatjana Chernisheva, Elena Emelianova, Piret Viires and Jaana Nikula. A group of advisors consists of Oleg Jurjew, Olga Martinova, Sergei Zavjalov, Olga Zavjalova and Jukka Mallinen. The working group will meet in May 2008 in Helsinki where all the preparatory work will be co-ordinated. The group will also need a contact person situated in St.Petersburg. The budget is 60 000 \u20ac. The Meeting has an environmental and ecological theme planned in co-operation with the Swedish Centre for Biological Diversity and its Baltic network. The program consists of seminars and readings. According to the preliminary plan the group will meet in Helsinki June 3rd and leave by bus(es) for St.Petersburg the following day June 4th On the way there will be visits to places of literary interest such as Raivola (Edith S\u00f6dergran) and Viipuri (Eeva-Liisa Manner). Thursday night to Sunday morning (June 4-7) will be spent in St.Petersburg. The group need a cultural invitation since all visas should be free. There will be no more than two delegates from every member-organizations. A registration-fee of approximately 50 \u20ac is required and the BWC will not cover the travel costs to Helsinki, only the bus ride to Helsinki-StP-Helsinki. The St.Petersburg PEN should be engaged in the planning. John Nurminen Foundation, Robert Bosch Foundation and Heinrich B\u00f6ll Foundation were mentioned as possible sponsors.<\/p>\n 10) The country reports followed. Ms. Sinervo and Ms. Sundstr\u00f6m from Finland explained about the much needed reform of the social security system. Writers and other artists have legally been considered as entrepreneurs but for the moment all the central art organizations are co-operating in order to find a better solution which would not put the artists in a much weaker situation than the citizens in general. A discussion with leading politicians and officials is in progress.<\/p>\n Ms. Nikula read the decision given by the Helsinki District Court in the case between a translator and a publishing house. \u201cIn its decision given on 30 May 2007, Helsinki District Court upheld the claim presented by a Finnish translator of literature against the publishing company WSOY and the paperback series Loisto. The Court stated that the defendants had breached the contract signed with the translator, as well as the Finnish Copyright Act, by republishing the Finnish translation in the Loisto series without the translator\u2019s consent.<\/p>\n As compensation, the defendants were required to pay the translator 50% of the fee originally paid for the translation of the work in question.\u201d Although the decision was given in a single case, it may serve as an important precedent. Hundreds of titles, many of them works translated into Finnish, have already been published in the Loisto paperback series. So far, translators have not been paid any compensation for the reuse of their translations in this series. The publishers have appealed against the Court\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n Mr. Rybelis from the Lithuanian Association of Literary Translators (LLVS) gave his report orally.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the aim of drawing publishers\u2019 and readers\u2019 attention to translation quality and translators\u2019 work, and of defending the prestige of literary translators, in 2007, the LLVS conferred, for the first time, an Anti-Prize for negligent attitude towards translators\u2019 work and disregard for traditions of fine publishing during the last three years: for poor translations (distortion of the original, inferior Lithuanian language, blind imitation of another translation of the work in question), for an infringement of copyright (failing to mention translator\u2019s name, issuing new editions without a contract, etc.), for deficient editing. Thus, the Anti-Winners can be publishers or media representatives who show no regard for translators\u2019 work or for literature on the whole, as well as those second-rate translators who have no adequate knowledge of the language of the original and of Lithuanian, or ignorant editors.<\/p>\n The winners of the Anti-Prize were announced at the Vilnius Book Fair in February 2007, and the whole project drew much positive attention from the general public and the media.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Bleicher-Nagelsmann from German Writers\u2019 Union presented orally the main points of his report which is here in its entirety.<\/p>\n \u201dGerman Writers\u2018 Union \u2013 Verband deutscher Schriftsteller \u2013 VS in ver.di Members of the German Writers\u2018 Union are 2900 writers and 1100 literary translators. Our board consists of seven members; President: Imre T\u00f6r\u00f6k. We also have in each state or \u2018Bundesland\u2019, (i.e. Bavaria, Saxonia) a regional president; 16 in all. This is part of the federal system. Our main activities through the last year: Book Fairs in Leipzig and Franfurt\/Main. In Frankfurt in October last year we started within the International Centre of the Book Fair our \u2018Project Africa\u2019. Topics on the African day were e.g. \u2018African Renaissance \u2013 myth or realistic strategy\u2019 and \u2018Rwanda \u2013 books for children after the genocide\u2019. We continued the \u2018Project Africa\u2019 in 2008 with a writers\u2019 conference in Accra (Ghana). Our president Imre T\u00f6r\u00f6k and two colleagues went for four days to Accra meeting 18 colleagues of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA). Information about the meeting and a \u2018Memorandum of Understanding\u2019 signed by the GWU and PAWA are placed on our website:<\/p>\n https:\/\/vs.verdi.de\/projekte\/afrika\/konferenz_in_ghana Another project the GWU launched in 2007 refers to May 10th\u00a0<\/strong>1933. At this day the Nazis burned the books of authors like Heinrich and Thomas Mann, Bert Brecht, Anna Seghers, Sigmund Freud and others. The VS did research in the \u2018Bundesl\u00e4nder\u2019 to find out not so well known authors whose books also had been burned and who died in exile or had no chance to place themselves in society after the end of the war. Their fate has been documented in a small book the GWU edited with support oft he Ministry of Culture and Media in Germany. More information at: http:\/\/vs.verdi.de\/projekte\/verbrannt_und_vergessen.<\/p>\n Collective bargaining under the copy right contractual law is an ongoing hard work in the translators\u2019 section. In Autumn last year after a mediation process with 8 main publishers which did not come to a satisfying result we started negotiating with Random House (Bertelsmann). A result from the end of January 2008 did not find the acceptance from the members of the translators\u2019 union. With additional demands we will continue the process.<\/p>\n The so called Enquete Commission \u2018Future of culture in Germany\u2019 set up by the German Parliament four years ago has finished its work. The report counts 500 pages with 560 demands to act on the level of the communities, Bundesl\u00e4nder and on the federal level in favour of cultural development. There are five main chapters talking about financing, europe, the economical and social situation of artists and authors as well as cultural education in Germany. We will examine the report and its demands especially from our point of view as authors and translators. Together with the other arts-sections within ver.di we will lobby and put pressure on politicians to fight for better conditions and the right of creative people.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Belov from Kaliningrad reported as follows:<\/p>\n \u201cToday I represent here Kaliningrad Writer Organization \u2013 I am vice-chairman of this writer\u2019s union and a member of Kaliningrad PEN-centre. I want to tell with you about situation in modern kaliningrad literature, our international projects and also about cooperation with Baltic Writer\u2019s Council, of course. Our organization consists of 25 writer (poets and prozaist), but it doesn\u2019t mean, that this quantity will became a quality, in order with law of dialectics. Today in such cities like Kaliningrad, writers organizations doesn\u2019t have great influence in our society \u2013 because, as a rule, they don\u2019t have their own journals and newspapers, they don\u2019t have financial resources and political instruments. We are waiting for reception of federal law about creative unions in our parliament, because this document can raise our writers, painters and composers on the new stage of development, but our deputies, as a rule, doesn\u2019t interested in the questions of culture. But, in the other side, it\u2019s not so bad \u2013 because it\u2019s well-known, that when the government of Soviet Union or Russian Federation take a very active part in the lives of writers, it\u2019s very often means, that this poet or prosewriter will finish his next book in a prison, like Edward Limonov, for example.<\/p>\n Today in Kaliningrad we have our PEN-center with writer Vyacheslav Karpenko in the head, and with such person as a members like Oleg Glushkin, Sergei Pogoniaev, Natalia Gorbacheva, Sergei Michailov and so on. I think that in nearest future Kaliningrad PEN-center will became a center of cultural life in Kaliningrad. Today we have our own printing-house, for example. And because of PEN-club is an international organization, we can do more interesting projects together. For example, as I remember, in the Baltic Mettings in Kaliningrad we are talking about the idea of House of Creation for Writers in Kaliningrad region \u2013 on the coast of Baltic Sea. I think it\u2019s the time to discuss this situation. And I think that it will be more interesting for all of us, if Kaliningrad PEN-center will enter to Baltic Writer\u2019s Council instead of Kaliningrad Writer Organization.<\/p>\n Modern kaliningrad literature is wide opened not only for international influence (in Kaliningrad poetry, for example, we can watch today a new styles, not only traditional verses, like in the other part of Russia), but also for international cooperation. In the August 2007 in Kaliningrad festival of actual poetry took part many poets from Sweden, Finland, USA, Lithuanian, Ukrainian and Belorussian. We were reading our poetry in festivals in Germany, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania and many others. You see, in his geographic situation, Kaliningrad region is an island. Like Gotland, may be a little bit bigger or smaller. It\u2019s an island of Russian culture in Europe, and we must use this.\u201d<\/p>\n After Mr. Belov\u2019s report there was a discussion of inviting Kaliningrad PEN-Centre as a member of BWC instead of Kaliningrad Writers\u2019 Union. Mr. Belov was asked to write an application to the Board.<\/p>\n The Swedish report was given jointly by Ms. \u00d6berg Lindsten and Mr. Lindqvist.<\/p>\n \u201cThe past year has been a very active one for The Swedish Writers\u2019 Union. An important issue has been our extensive efforts to make our government understand that authors need better protection through our copyright legislation in order to become a stronger contracting partner towards different users of the works created by our authors for instance within the book publishing field. Therefore the union has presented in 2006 a detailed proposal for amendments to chapter three of the Swedish copyright act making the author a stronger contracting party and making it mandatory for the publishing companies to enter into negotiations with the Swedish Writers\u2019 Union concerning acceptable minimum standards for publishing contracts. Our proposal is inspired by the proposal made in May 2001 by the German government. Unfortunately what finally came out of the initial German proposal was a much weaker legislation than the one originally proposed.<\/p>\n Much work has also been carried out in order to strengthen the Swedish legislation concerning our public libraries. In 2006, the union created a new policy document for our public libraries, which for instance has been distributed to the Swedish municipalities. Emphasis has been laid on our demand for better libraries within the school sector. Our members have also taken part in local and regional activities in support of better public libraries. It should be mentioned that the public libraries in the Nordic countries are well equipped and more than 60 per cent of the population visit them every year. In an international context this is record-breaking figures.<\/p>\n An investigation has been carried out by the union concerning our members\u2019 income during the year 2004. As many as 68 per cent of our members answered to the questions posed. The results that we now have give a clear view concerning the social and economical difficulties for writers and literary translators to make a living out of their creative work. The results constitute a valid platform for our demands for better cultural policies and state support for the literary craftsmen of our country.<\/p>\n Our union is also actively engaged in the work of Swedish collecting societies within the fields of photocopying, satellite broadcasting, blank tape levy etc. And of course issues raised by the possibilities of digital production, dissemination and consumption of protected works are discussed and handled both on the principle level and in the day to day work by the union\u2019s legal advisors.<\/p>\n Our contacts with writers and writers\u2019- and translators\u2019 organisations outside Sweden are very lively. The Swedish Writers’ Union is actively engaged in the work of The European Writers\u2019 Congress (EWC), where former managing director of the union, John Erik Forslund, has recently been elected President. The preparations for WALTIC (Writers\u2019 and Literary Translators\u2019 International Congress, 29 June-2 July 2008) have been a main focus during 2007. The themes of the congress, hosted by The Swedish Writers’ Union, are literacy, intercultural dialogue and digitalization, and the seminar program will hold up to 100 seminars and 60 invited speakers from all over the world. The Swedish Writers’ Union has gained support for WALTIC from numerous sources, among them Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency), Swedish National Commission for Unesco and the Swedish Institute. Another international project that will hopefully start in 2008 is a Swedish\/Belarusian cooperation which will aim to support the Belarusian Writers\u2019 Union and to arrange several activities in Sweden and Belarus for writers and translators.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms. Viires presented the Estonian report, here in it\u2019s entirety:<\/p>\n Legislation and politics<\/strong><\/p>\n There are not any important news concerning the legislation and politics. In 2005 the Law of the Creative Unions and Freelancers was implemented in Estonian legislation.<\/p>\n Although this law does not guarantee any tax reduction or social security for freelancers, it is possible to give so-called \u2019creative scholarships\u2019 to writers. Estonian Writers\u2019 Union has granted the scholarships to support creative work for three years now. However, Estonian Writers\u2019 Union has initiated to start the discussion to make amendments in the law, insisting that the law should also guarantee social security for free-lance authors.<\/p>\n Public lending right is implemented in Estonia since 2004 and a special foundation Authors’ Remuneration Fund was established to carry out the necessary work. The Fund has distributed the remuneration among authors for three years now. The same fund manages also the reprography remuneration. The sums from the remunerations come directly from the state budget.<\/p>\n International relations<\/strong><\/p>\n The year 2007 was the end of the Culture 2000 project \u2019Literature and its Borders. Baltic Ring 3\u2019 where Estonian Writers\u2019 Union was a leading partner. The project lasted for one year (starting in 2006) and brought together 7 partners from 4 different countries. The main objective of the project was to organise series of seminars in different countries under the umbrella-title \u2019Literature and its Borders\u2019. The project had also the second part \u2013 the exchange of writers and translators. The partners evaluated the project as a successful one, the final report has been completed and submitted and we are waiting for the final judgement from Brussels. The project was supported also by Tallinn City Government, Estonian Ministry of Culture and Estonian Cultural Endowment.<\/p>\n Last year we applied for another project from the EU Culture programme together with The Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators in Visby and International Writers’ and Translators’ House in Ventspils. The result is unknown yet.<\/p>\n Estonian Writers\u2019 Union is continuing to participate in another network, called Halma. It\u2019s a network for literary houses of Central and Eastern Europe. The central organiser of this network is Literary Colloquium Berlin (LCB). Estonia was the main guest at the Gothenburg Book Fair in Sweden in September 27-30, 2007. Estonian Writers\u2019 Union was one of the main organisers of this event. Ca 130 Estonian writers and intellectuals were present and also 21 translations of Estonian literature were published in Sweden for the book fair. EWU is continuously the member of EWC-FAEE AISBL, The European Writers’ Congress as well as the member of Baltic Writers\u2019 Council.<\/p>\n \n Activities in Estonia<\/strong><\/p>\n In March 2007 Estonian Writers\u2019 Union got a new chairman \u2013 Karl Martin Sinij\u00e4rv, a poet and a cookbook writer. His election period lasts at least for three years. In October 2007 we celebrated the 85th anniversary of Estonian Writers\u2019 Union, our organisation was established in 1922. We had also two other small anniversaries: 10 years of the existence of the Writers\u2019 and Translators\u2019 House in K\u00e4smu and 10 years of \u2019Literary Wednesdays\u2019 \u2013 our literary evenings that take place every week (exept in summer). Regrettably in December 2007 Estonian writers and the whole Estonian society faced a great loss \u2013 the grand old man of Estonian literature Jaan Kross died at the age of 87. EWU is continuing several projects that have become already a tradition \u2013 \u2019Estonian Writers in Estonian Libraries\u2019, literary forum \u2019The Library of Babel, \u2019Literary Wednesdays\u2019 etc. EWU is planning to establish a bigger international poetry and prose festival, hopefully it will start already next year or in 2010. In 2011 Tallinn will be the cultural capital of Europe and in connection to this also several literary events are planned to be organised by EWU. In 2007 EWU had also serious negotiations with textbook publishers concerning the minimum fees of authors. Fortunately both sides came to an agreement and certain minimum fees were fixed As a conclusion it can be stated that the main goals of Estonian Writers\u2019 Union are the same as before \u2013 to secure the position of literature and writers in the society, to promote literature among potential readers, to stand for authors\u2019 rights and to develop international relations between literary institutions of other countries.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms. Treimane gave the Latvian report.<\/p>\n \u201cWriters and translators in Latvia now regulary receive remuneration based on lending frequency to individual authors and translators for the loans of library books to the public. In 2006 we got the reimbursement for 2 years: 2003 and 2004 (213 764, 06 LVL). In April 2007 we got remuneration for 2005 (154 323, 00 LVL) and in December 2007 \u2013 for 2006 (372 939, 75 LVL). The remuneration is administrated by Copyright Association (AKKA\/LAA) which calculates and implements public lending right in Latvia.<\/p>\n The money comes from the state budget: since 2003 it is 7,5% of the amount the libraries have spent on purchasing books during the previous year. Every next year the percentage is increased for 0,5% up till 2009, when the percentage will reach 10% of the book purchase and then it will remain unchanged.<\/p>\n During last year Latvian Writers\u2019 Union had worked on 3 annual projects: The Literary Award, The Poetry Days and The Cultural Programme \u2019Literary Academy\u2019. The main sponsor of the projects is State Culture Capital Foundation.<\/p>\n The annual Literary Award is given in 9 nominations. Another annual tradition is to organize Poetry Days all over Latvia which last approx. one week \u2013 usually in September. Last year 20 different literary activities in Riga and elsewhere in Latvia took place, organized not only by Writers\u2019 Union but also in co-operation with other literary institutions, such as Latvian Literature Centre, The Museum of Theatre, Music and Literature and others. Several poetry events were organized by municipal cultural institutions, museums and schools as well. Poetry Day Awards are traditionally given for the best poetry book and for the best translated poetry book. The audience\u2019s approval for \u2019Poetry Days\u2019 activities is increasing year by year and last year the publicity was very great, even greater than was expected. The interest of media has been very keen, because the project \u2019Poetry Days\u2019 has become larger and has achieved the dimensions of a festival. It has been thanks to the successful PR which has resulted in the increased number of public and also in the publicity of events. The cultural programme \u2019Literary Academy\u2019 administrated by Latvian Writers\u2019 Union and financed by State Culture Capital Foundation gives the possibilities to authors \u2013 both the young and the experienced ones \u2013 to develop their professional skills. In this programme the Writers\u2019 Union\u2019s co-operation with the Faculty of Philology and several museums had been very important, because they had given the premises for lectures and seminars. Within the framework of this programme the following activities had taken place: 1) Regular individual literary consultations at the premises of Writers\u2019 Union had been available in poetry, prose and drama for all who have been interested in writing. These professional advisers have made trips also to 12 places in Latvia where there are active local literary groups. 2) 56 lectures and seminars and 48 workshops \u2013 16 workshops in poetry, 16 in prose and 16 in drama \u2013 were organized to improve writers\u2019 skills at the Faculty of Philology. During the workshops 20 literary works (6 in poetry, 9 in prose and 5 in drama) have been written. 3) The seminar for writers-beginners has 60 years\u2019 old history. Last year 177 applications were sent in and after the evaluation of a professional jury 22 best applicants \u2013 12 poets, 8 prose writers and 2 translators \u2013 were invited for 5 days seminar in April. 4) The creative summer seminar for young people, which has taken place for 3 decades already, is a project for pupils who are interested in writing. Last year 28 young authors \u2013 younger than 20 \u2013 were invited to participate in this creative 6 days summer seminar.<\/p>\n \n About Ventspils House<\/strong><\/p>\n The historical Town Hall, built in the 18th century and located in Ventspils centre next to the new library has been successfully restored and set up as Ventspils International Writers\u2019 and Translators\u2019 House or Ventspils House. The building has been rebuilt and adjusted to the needs of creative work and literary activities, with seven residential premises, a computer room, reading-room, kitchen, parking facilities, small garden and recreation areas. The centre can house nine residents at a time. There are two twin residential rooms. Two of the rooms have been adapted for people with special needs.<\/p>\n The Ventspils House has spaces for small events for up to 40 people: for creative workshops and for brainstorming. It is also available for seminars, conferences, workshops and other creative events. The resident has the opportunity to become involved in creative collaborative projects such as festivals and seminars. 42 literary events concerning literature and translation (poetry and prose readings, seminars, concerts) have taken place at Ventspils House. Also the local writers and artists have taken part in them.<\/p>\n Ventspils House was opened 2006 thanks to the initiative of the Minister of Culture and her successful co-operation with the Mayor of Ventspils and the director of the Latvian Literature Centre. The State Culture Capital Foundation through its cultural funding programme has granted Ventspils House 10 000 LVL (= 14 285 \u20ac) in 2006 and 25 000 LVL (35 714 \u20ac) in 2007. In 2006 State Culture Capital Foundation had given a grant to the programme Creative process in Ventspils International Writers\u2019 and Translators\u2019 House\u2019, the programme was continued in 2007 as well.<\/p>\n Thanks to the support of the State Culture Capital Foundation, Ventspils House offers a scholarship 150 LVL (214 \u20ac) giving the opportunity to live and work there for 4 weeks. 141 persons from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Netherlands, Macedonia, Spain, Russia, Germany, Slovenia, Finland, Norway, Bulgaria and other countries have applied for scholarships for 2007. 97 writers have used this opportunity and worked there.<\/p>\n Booklet in Latvian and English is available about Ventspils House. As well as a newsletter in Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Russian, German, French, English and Spain has been prepared and distributed in different international literary events (meetings, conferences, book fairs).<\/p>\n In co-operation with the Robert Bosch Foundation and network Halma (the network of literary residential centres in Europe, founded in 2006) the booklet in English has been produced about 16 centres in 11 countries. Good cooperation has been established with the European Association of Humanities\u00a0Des Letres Europeenes<\/em>.<\/p>\n The information about Ventspils House has reached Germany thanks to the co-operation withLiterarisches Colloquium Berlin<\/em>. The information about Ventspils house is published also in data base\u00a0TransArtists<\/em>. The fruitful co-operation is established with several literary centres and organizations \u2013 with BCWT and Estonian Writers\u2019 Union: the common project has been Nordic Poetry Festival and application has been made for culture programme\u00a0Culture 2007-2013<\/em>, where different literary events and scholarships for writers have been planned.<\/p>\n Representatives from Estonian Writers\u2019 Union (EWU) Marts Sillmannu and Piret Viires have visited Ventspils House in order to plan the common co-operation in future. A representative from Ventspils House has been to EWU to discuss the programme of EU Culture 2000 Baltic Ring. The co-operation with BWC and with Klaus-J\u00fcrgen Liedtke is in progress in preparing Virtual Baltic See Library project.<\/p>\n Information about Ventspils House is on home page www.ventspilshouse.lv<\/p>\n Mr. Tveite gave the activity report from the Norwegian Association of Literary Translators.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Norwegian Association of Literary Translators, (NO) was founded in 1948, and is today one of four bodies organising translators in Norway. The Association has 289 members translating from altogether 48 languages.<\/p>\n \n General activities, negotiations and policy making<\/strong><\/p>\n The association\u2019s most important aim is to secure literary translators decent remuneration for their work. In 2006, following years of negotiations and five months of protest actions (for more information on the campaign, see Don Bartlett, \u2018Translators stand together in Norway\u2019), we were able to secure a new standard contract with the publishers\u2019 association.<\/p>\n In the past year we held a one day seminar for both translators and editors on the interpretation of the new contract. In general, the contract seems to be used and respected by all the parties concerned.<\/p>\n This year we have signed a new contract with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) concerning the commercial reuse of previously broadcast programmes.<\/p>\n Fluctuations in the field of publishing also give rise to new challenges for the rightholder organisations. We are currently negotiating a contract for the use of translations in \u2018Tanum book clubs\u2019, a result of last year\u2019s merger of two of Norway\u2019s largest publishing houses, Cappelen (owned by Bonnier) and Damm (owned by Egmont). Another newly established publishing house, on a quite different scale, presents a different challenge. The so far tiny Pocketforlaget, a joint venture between the second largest publisher, Aschehoug and the smaller, traditionally left-wing Pax, is basing their venture on pocket reprints of titles from other publishers, and thus represent a new mode of publishing. Not surprisingly, our views as to how to understand the contract in this case, differ.<\/p>\n Lastly, NO has initiated a cooperative effort between the various culture workers\u2019 associations with a view to improving the structural conditions for freelancers, in particular where taxation, welfare and the pension system are concerned.<\/p>\n \n Training<\/strong><\/p>\n Another of the association\u2019s main tasks is to train and professionalize our members as literary translators. In addition to the annual three day autumn seminar, attended by nearly a third of the members, the association holds bilingual seminars for members translating from specific languages, in 2006 a two day seminar for translators from the Scandinavians languages.<\/p>\n NO also runs a one year course called Flerstemt 2 (Polyphony 2) for potential translators from the various immigrant languages, such as Urdu, Vietnamese, Somali etc. This project is a result of a 2002 initiative by Arts Council Norway to make available translations of literature originally written in languages spoken by the larger groups of immigrants. The pilot project resulted in an anthology of short stories translated from 9 different languages, published in 2003. The course is presently held for the second time, and depending on the result of a planned evaluation, is planned as an irregularly recurring undertaking.<\/p>\n The website www.nettverkstedet.no, run in collaboration with the other translators\u2019 associations, has been up and running since 2002. This virtual workshop offers various services, including online access to all the main Norwegian dictionaries, various essays and a lot more.<\/p>\n Visibility<\/strong><\/p>\n The association\u2019s members are present daily at the Norwegian Festival of Literature at Lillehammer, at the \u2018translators\u2019 hour\u2019. We also contribute, albeit on a less regular basis, to other festivals and conferences, such as this year\u2019s biannual Library Meeting in Bergen, hosted by the Norwegian Library Association.<\/p>\n In 2005-06 we ran a pilot programme where translators visited and presented their work for high school students.<\/p>\n Finally, in our efforts to make translators visible to the general public, NO annually awards its own translation prize called Bastian, and there is a translation prize awarded by our two most important book clubs. Since 2004 there is also an annual translation prize awarded by the literary critics.<\/p>\n \n International<\/strong><\/p>\n NO is a member of CEATL (Conseil Europ\u00e9en des Associations de Traducteurs Litt\u00e9raires), the EWC (European Writers\u2019 Congress), the Three Seas Writers\u2019 and Translators\u2019 Council, the Baltic Writers\u2019 and Translators\u2019 Council and, of course, the FIT.<\/p>\n Internationally NO is engaged in several projects, above all, in cooperation with the Norwegian Writers Union and the Norwegian Writers for Children, in the Ogarit Cultural Centre in Palestine, an independent publishing project for Palestinian writers and translators.<\/p>\n The third session was ended at 17:15.<\/p>\n 11) The session was resumed on Sunday 2nd March at 9:45. The treasurer Ms. Treimane presented the budget which had been somewhat changed. The GA gave the Board the right to change the budget when needed. The budget was approved by voting (10 for, 1 absent).<\/p>\n The Sami writers, Belarus and Ukraine were discussed as prospective members.<\/p>\n 12) Ms. Nikula the Chairperson of Littera Baltica presented the program of the next LB-congress which will be held in Turku June 6-8. Homepage www.litterabaltica.com Mr. Belov arrived at 11:20.<\/p>\n 13) Ms. Treimane was voted unanimously to the Board and will continue as a Treasurer. Ms. Nikula was voted unanimously to the Board and will continue as a Secretary. Ms. Jensen and Mr. Lahne were voted as Auditors. Ms. Sundstr\u00f6m was given a mandate to organize the work of Baltic Meetings 2009.<\/p>\n 14) Membership fee is 150 \u20ac. Ms. Jensen pointed out that the invoices should be sent after GA, not before it.<\/p>\n 15) It was decided that in 2009 the General Assembly will be held on February 27th to March 1st The session was ended at 11:50.<\/p>\n \n Klaus-J\u00fcrgen Liedtke Chairman<\/p>\n Jaana Nikula Secretary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" General Assembly 2008 The Baltic Writers\u2019 Council General Assembly 2008 Visby, February 29 – March 2 Minutes Participants: Klaus-J\u00fcrgen Liedtke, Chairman, Baltic Writers\u2019 Council; Piret Viires, Estonian Writers\u2019 Union; Mudite Treimane, Latvian Writers\u2019 Union; Merete Jensen, Society of Swedish-Speaking Writers in Finland; Mikaela Sundstr\u00f6m, Society of Swedish-Speaking Writers in Finland; Helena Sinervo, Finnish Writers\u2019 … Continue reading GA 2008<\/span>