Frano Kulli: The network of bookstores in Albania is that of the early 90s, there is still no serious bookstore in Tirana

The book law, publications, bookstores, relations with cultural institutions were some of the issues that were addressed by the publishers at the general meeting of the Albanian Publishers Association. Representatives of publishing houses, members of this association, were present at the meeting. Publisher Frano Kulli from the publishing house "Gjergj Fishta" says that the problems faced by publishers show that more needs to be done by the institutions in the country. According to him, it is not only the network of bookstores that does not function properly, but the relationship with state institutions regarding the book is also a problem. "The association should raise its voice more strongly to the government for the support of the network of bookstores in Albania, which is the one of the early 90s. There is still no serious bookstore in Tirana. To coordinate the relationship with the National Book and Reading Center more seriously. The only state institution of the book does not have a cooperation agenda with the only Publishers' Association of Albania, but bases its work on sporadic and dilettantish relationships with authors or subjects completely on the periphery of book work", says the publisher and publicist Frano Kulli, who is also in the chairmanship of the Association of Publishers. Regarding the selection of recommended literature for schools, the publisher Frano Kulli says that it was decided to ask the Ministry of Education to appoint the selection commissions in coordination with the Publishers' Association. "Not like until now, where these commissions have been dominated by subjects from the bureaucracy of the faculty of literature or even more ordinary than that, who have dominated for years the selection of recommended literature for schools,

The activities of the association have increased in number 

 In the report that the president of the association, Petrit Ymeri, spoke about the current problems of the Albanian publishing house, the main activities organized by the Association, the Tirana Book Fair, including last year's innovation, the Durrës Wine Festival, activities which are increased in number and quality, raised once again the issue of copyright and publication of books without rights, relations with cultural institutions, book law, etc. This report was supplemented by discussions from other members of the association who proposed more activities for the book, discussed the piracy of printing presses and illegal publishers, the issue of customs with Kosovo, etc., the spread of the Albanian book in North Macedonia, the lack of bookstores in districts, etc. A financial report was given by Jani Malo, who, giving an overview of the financial activity of the association, emphasized that in recent years the association has been financially supported by the Municipality of Tirana and the Ministry of Culture better than other years. At the end of the meeting, new elections were held: Petrit Ymeri, Gëzim Tafa, Manushaqe Bako, Frano Kulli and David Hudhri were elected to the presidency of the association. Petrit Ymeri was re-elected chairman of the Association of Publishers, Gëzim Tafa was re-elected vice-chairman.