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Only 10 percent of books published in Belarus are in Belarusian, says first deputy information minister

Only 10 percent of the books that are published in Belarus are in the Belarusian language, First Deputy Information Minister Liliya Ananich told reporters in Minsk on Monday.

"I believe that Belarusian-language books should account for at least 50 percent or maybe even more of those coming out in our country," Ms. Ananich said. "This means that we don't promote the Belarusian language well enough and publishers are not interested in Belarusian-language books."

Belarusian-language books sell very well at present, she said, stressing that she was not giving her own opinion but citing findings of a survey of the sales trends of the AAT Belkniha bookstore chain.

According to her, 5,610 titles of books and booklets were published in Belarus in the first half of 2011, a three-percent decrease on the same period of the previous year. The total number of printed copies of books decreased by 15 percent, as people have less money to buy books and libraries have difficulties replenishing their collections, Ms. Ananich said.

However, the year is not yet over and all books that were ordered by the government will be published, she noted. //BelaPAN