ICORN writers at PEN International World Congress in Belgrade

Representing their respective PEN centres, they have joined with more than 300 delegates and participants from 89 PEN centres from all over the world for four intense days of discussions and celebrations of literature and freedom of expression.

The 77th PEN International Congress was officially opened in Belgrade City Hall on Tuesday 13 September, addressed by the President of Serbia Mr. Boris Tadic, Serbian PEN Presient Ms. Vida Ognjenovic and PEN International President Mr. John Ralston Saul. Saluting the extraordinary gathering of 10 PEN Centres from all over Balkan, and the subsequential establishment of a new "Balkan PEN International Network", Mr. Saul sa this as an "public expression of reconciliation", and "a formal evocation of the imagination of the Balkans".

See Mr John Ralston Saul's speech in full in the attachment below.