Moroccan writer calls for state's subsidies to translation of books

Renowned Moroccan writer Tahar Benjelloun called on governments to subsidize the translation of Arab books into other languages, in view of the high price of such endeavors and the unwillingness of European publishers to publish unknown authors.

The writer, who obtained last weekend the European poetry "Calliope" 1998 prize, cited in an interview with MAP bureau in Rome the example of France which financially helps foreign countries wishing to translate French authors to increase their readership and disseminate French culture.

The author, holder of the prestigious French Goncourt prize, who has translated several books by Moroccan writers, noted that European publishing houses are very reluctant to publish books by unknown foreign authors because they stand little chance of being sold.