ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - A renowned Brazilian writer, Paulo Coelho, who is on a three-day visit to Croatia, met Premier Ivica Racan at the Government building in Zagreb on Tuesday. Apart from the situation in culture in Croatia and the
importance of cultural identity, Racan and Coelho also talked about soccer, Dalmatian harmony-singing groups ('klape') and rock music.
ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - A renowned Brazilian writer, Paulo Coelho,
who is on a three-day visit to Croatia, met Premier Ivica Racan at
the Government building in Zagreb on Tuesday.
Apart from the situation in culture in Croatia and the importance of
cultural identity, Racan and Coelho also talked about soccer,
Dalmatian harmony-singing groups ('klape') and rock music. #L#
I believe that culture, education and science are not expenses but
development factors of every nation, however, it is questionable,
considering the crisis in Croatia, how much funds the country can
really set aside for those areas, Racan said, adding this problem
was discussed at today's Government session, which he left briefly
to meet Coelho.
According to Racan, Coelho's visit could serve the new Culture
Minister Antun Vujic as a strong argument for the need to promote
international cultural exchange.
The homogenising of culture at the global level is intensifying,
but local cultures and diversities should be more affirmed because
culture is a manifestation of one people's soul, Coelho said.
He expressed hope that he would be able to help in the cultural
exchange with Croatia, because he believed Croatia's culture had a
lot to offer to his country and countries he was visiting. In
writing, I want to be as close as possible to the readers because
writers should share their soul with the readers, he said.
Speaking about Croatia, he said he liked Dalmatian harmony-singing
groups and believed the Croatian national soccer team was a serious
threat to the Brazilian team at the 1998 World Championship.
Coelho presented Racan with four of his books, published so far by
the Zagreb publishing house VBZ - "The Alchemist", "The Fifth
Mountain", "Veronica Decides to Die" and "By the River Piedra I Sat
Down and Wept" and expressed hope his other books would be
translated into Croatian as well. Asking him to sign another two
copies for his son and wife, Racan gave Coelho a set of CDs with
Croatian rock anthology.
(hina) rml