Book Budget Increased

Assistant Minister of Culture in the publishing department Cedomir Visnjic says that this year's budget for books and publishing increased 20 percent compared to the previous year. The 20 percent increase means that this year's budget equals 61 million kunas.

Visnjic says that 41 million kunas will be spent on magazines, the purchase of books, various literary events, and support to authors.

"The competition for the support to authors will be announced next week," he said at the meeting with the press, adding that they have 8.5 million kunas in store for this support.

Visnjic says that the Ministry took over the organization of the Croatian presentation at the Leipzig Book Fair because of the "weakness" of the Croatian publishers.

He announced the signing of the agreement on the unique book price which will provide for the punishment of losing the privileges given by the Ministry for those who violate the agreement.