Latvian Poetry to be on display on Metro Buses in Washington, DC

In order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome (the treaties which established the European Community in 1957), the 27 European Union member states, including Latvia, together with the EU Commission in Washington, DC are launching an ambitious literary project titled European Poetry in Motion®.

Each country has selected 5 poems in both the original language and English translation, which will be on display inside Washington, DC's Metro Buses for the month of May 2007. Additional advertising for the project will appear on the outside of buses and in Metro stations. Latvia's poems are by the following poets: Imants Ziedonis, Vizma Belsevica, Liana Langa, Maris Salejs and Karlis Verdins

Additional information, including author biographies, information about the participating countries, and the texts of the poems is provided on the project’s website: www.europe-in-dc.com.

This joint project is a great opportunity to spotlight each country's unique language and literature, as well as support the United States in the promotion of literacy.

This project has been made possible by the kind support of the EU Commission, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA), the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Alexandria, Arlington and Prince George’s County Arts Councils, the Poetry Society of America, and the Embassies of the European Union countries.

The Embassy of Latvia is particularly grateful to the Latvian Literature Center, based in Riga, for its involvement in the selection and financing of the Latvian poetry.