By a symbolic handover of the Open Book, Sweden "lost" the prestigious position of the Guest of Honor Country at this year’s
International Belgrade Book Fair. The Open Book was taken over by the Ambassadors of the countries of Portuguese speaking region, who will be the Guests of Honor at the 56th Book Fair.

H. E. Mr. Christer Asp, the Ambassador of Sweden, handed over the Open Book to H. E. Mr. Dante Coelho de Lima, the Ambassador of Brazil, H. E. Mr. Caetano Luis Pequito de Almeida Sampaio, the Ambassador of Portugal and H. E. Mr. Toko Diakenga Serao, the Ambassador of Angola.

By this symbolic act the jubilant 55th Belgrade Book Fair was closed and the countries from three continents actually started their preparations for featuring their culture and belletristic literature at the next event.

H. E. Mr. Christer Asp, the Ambassador of Sweden, said he was very happy with everything his country had in Serbia during the year, he would like they kept the Guest of Honor role at least for another year and wished the new Guests of Honor would enjoy the tasks they have got.

On behalf of himself and his colleagues, H. E. Mr. Dante Coelho de Lima, the Ambassador of Brazil, said it was a special honor for him that the Guest of Honor at the 56th Belgrade Book Fair would be not only his country, but all the eight countries in the world, in which Portuguese was the official language.

- I am taking over the Book and all tasks along with it with a high degree of both responsibility and pleasure and I am ensuring the hosts we shall work hard to present to the Serbian publics and readers our literature and culture in the best way, said H. E. Mr. Dante Coelho de Lima.