The writer visited Bulgaria in response for the invitation by foundation "Elisabeth Kostova" as part of the programme "100 faces of the literature". The Nobel Laureate reminded in his speech that our two countries - Bulgaria and Turkey - have a long history together, a sad and bloody one. Today we, as free citizens of the world, have the right to analyse history. He also stated that for him history was the people and not the deeds of the kings and sultans.

Orhan Pamuk is one of the few public persons who admit the genocide over the Armenians in the beginning of the 20th c. In his books, he compares the Eastern and Western traditions, seeking for the resemblances and differences. These are the basis of his favourite novel "My name is red", translated in Bulgarian. The magazine "Time" listed him among the 100 most influential people in the world.

Luchezara Pruvcheva, abridged