Serbian writer Dragan Velikic opened the 54th International Belgrade Book Fair on Oct. 26, while writer and academic Thanasis Valtinos, this year's guest of honor, addressed the visitors in the name of Greece.

"A book is the most important meeting place of people of different opinions, ideas and professions; of other cultures; of everything that has existed and everything that may exist at any time and any place," Velikic said.

"The Greeks and Serbs have always cherished friendly ties, even in difficult times," Valtinos said, citing spiritual kinship as one of the main reasons.

The fair is presenting 40 publishers from Greece, while 12 Greek writers will personally present their work.

The event showcases publishers from 24 countries, including guests from Sweden, Japan, Canada, China, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Israel, Brazil, Iran and countries in the region.

This year's fair will also feature a forum, which will debate such topics as: "Literary Awards and Literary Injustices," "The Media Status of Books," "Free Textbooks: One Year Later," "Literature and Media Heroes: The Harry Potter Phenomenon," and "The Book as Cultural Capital."

Chat sessions will be organized daily, during which writers and critics from the region will talk with visitors.

The fair will also present a publisher award and the Dositej Obradovic Prize to a foreign publisher for the promotion of Serbian literature.