The Armenian version of the short novel “From the Observatory” by Julio Cortazar has been presented as part of the “Programa Sur” translation support program funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina.

As Temporary Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Argentina Miguel Chilingirian stated, the Programa Sur Program was launched by the Argentine government for promoting the translation of works by Argentine authors, publishing them in foreign languages and disseminating the notions, ideas and values of the Argentineans, adding that this program has become the most extensive translation grant program on the American continent, including an average of 135 books a year.

Chilingirian expressed gratitude to those who made the Armenian translation of the book possible, especially the book’s translator Alice Der-Ghevondian and head of Actual Art Publishing Mkrtich Matevosyan.

The book’s translator Alice Der-Ghevondian stated that even though the short novel touches upon snakefishes, stars, Sultan Jai Singh, it is about thinking people.

To date, Programa Sur has provided 1,472 grants for books translated into 46 languages.