Poet, novelist, essayist and translator. Born in Iraq, near Babylon. Since 1976 lives in Poland. BA in Arabic Language and Literature from the University of Baghdad, MA in Polish Language and Literature from the University of Warsaw and PhD in Drama Studies from the Warsaw University, where he now lectures on Arabic Language and Literature. 1985-1988 lecturer of Arabic Literature and Drama in the University of Tizi-Ouzu in Algeria, 1993-1994 visiting scholar at the Indiana University. Author of books of poetry, criticism and translation. Numerous poetry prizes, e.g.: The Polish ZAiKS Prize for Translation, (Warsaw 2003), Witold Hulewicz Award for all works, (Warsaw 2003), International Day of Poetry and the magazine “Poezja Dzisiaj” Award for all works, (Warsaw 2005). His poems were published in many languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Czech, Kurdish, Slovak, Spanish, Persian, Polish, and Russian. His poems have appeared in many Arab, English and Polish magazines and anthologies, such as The Space Between Our Footsteps - poems and paintings from the Middle East, Simon & Schuster Books, Literatures of Asia, Africa and Latin America, Prentice Hall with Simon & Schuster Books and Pisarze Świata (The Writers of the World), Encyclopedia PWN. Author of Arabic Theatre: origins, history and quest, Dialog (Poland). Main translator of the Polish literature into Arabic (translated more than 40 polish authors, among others Słowacki, Mickiewicz, Miłosz, Herbert, Szymborska, Różewicz, Grochowiak, Zagajewski, Stachura, Wojaczek, Kapuściński, Kołakowski) and Arabic literature in Polish. Member of Polish P.E.N. Centre Board (till November 2003), The Union of Polish Writers, the Polish Oriental Association and the Middle East Studies Association of North America.
Experts
Hatif Janabi
Michał Karniewicz
Journalist from Grodno, former press journalist (Pahonia, Briża Informacji) and radio journalist (Racja) – all closed down. In 2005 he was working for the Polish radio TOK FM.
Bernd Karwen
Born in w Elmshorn. Studied Polish Language, Political Sciences and German as a Foreign Language at the University of Leipzig. Since 1999 has worked in the Polish Institute in Leipzig, where he is responsible for promoting Polish literature. Since 2001 PhD student at the University of Leipzig, also works as a translator.
Jan Kavan
MA in journalism at the Charles University, leader of the 1960s student movement in Prague. Following the Warsaw Pact invasion in Czechoslovakia in 1968 he was forced to emigrate to the UK. He studied International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science and Politics at the University of Reading and in the St Anthony’s College, Oxford University. Founder of Palach Press Agency in London in 1974, which later became the main press agency for Czechoslovak opposition in the Western Europe. It was also the main distributor in the world of documents and reports issued by human rights movement Charter 77. He also formed the Jan Palach Information and Research Trust (JPIRT) which provided Czechoslovak dissidents with books and technical equipment and supported underground university courses. Founder of the East European Cultural Foundation (EECF) and the prestigious quarterly East European Reporter, which published all important documents and articles written by dissidents in Eastern and Central European countries. Returned to Prague from political exile in November 1989 and was elected in June 1990 to the Federal Assembly (Parliament). A notable academic career included posts as the Visiting Professor of Politics and History at the Adeplhi University in New York and as the Karl Loewenstein Fellow in Politics and Jurisprudence at the Amherst College in Massachusetts. He holds several honorary degrees, including the Honorary Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science and Honorary Doctor of Humane letters at the Adeplhi University. 1973-1989 lecturer at the Institute of Adult Education in London. 1998-2002 Minister of Foreign Affairs. 1999 - 2002 Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and Security Policy. President of the 57th session of the United Nations General Assembly (2002-2003). June 2002-2006 Deputy to the Czech Parliament, where he worked as Vice-President in the Foreign Affairs Committee. Foreign affairs adviser to the President of the Chamber of Deputies (Parliament) 2007- . Winner of numerous awards for achievements in the strife for democracy and human rights.
Josef Kollar
Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Poland.
Tomasz Korzeniowski
Since 1979 has been engaged in Jewish history and culture. Translator of the Hebrew literature. Among his translations there are: poetry of Jehuda Amichaj: The end of orange season (Koniec sezonu pomarańczy), poetic prose of Amos Oz: The same sea (To samo morze), prose of Chaim Beera Dawid Grossman, Mira Magen, Orli Kastel-Blum, poems of contemporary Israeli poets. Since 1990 has published in newspapers and magazines (i.a. Zeszyty Literackie, Kwartalnik Artystyczny).
Agnieszka Kosińska
1996 - 2004 Polish literature teacher, Czeslaw Milosz’s personal assistant, director of The Milosz Institute. Library & Archives.
Agnieszka Kosowicz
Graduated from the Warsaw University, Faculty of Journalism. Since 1999 UNHCR External Relations Officer in Warsaw. Responsible for the educational activities of the Office, UNHCR publications in Poland, and liaisons with Polish non-governmental organisations. Former journalist, she specialises in international journalism. She has published her reports from Iraq, Albania and Kosovo in Życie and Sztandardailies. Co-author of the Łąka Popiołów (Meadow of Ashes) photo exhibition about war and conflict in Kosovo.
Anna Kowalska
Since 2003 works as project manager at the Villa Decius Association. Manages and develops international projects, among others ten previous editions of the Visegrad Summer School. Graduated from the Krakow University of Economics (Management) and the Academy of Anti-discrimination Training. Educator and consultant specializing in gender and equality issues. From 1997 to 2000 she worked as coordinator for the USAID Local Partnership Program, later until 2003 for the Department of Education and Culture in the Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region.
Marek Król
Graduated from Latin and Greek philology at the Poznań University. Journalist and publicist. 1979-1989 involved in PZPR-Polish United Workers Party, its Main Secretary in 1989. Until 1991 member of the Polish Parliament. Since 1983 journalist in Wprost weekly, in 1985 - vice editor-in-chief and since 1989 it’s editor-in-chief. In 1991 decided to leave politics behind and concentrated fully on the Wprost weekly. Turned it into one of the biggest and the strongest opinion magazine on the Polish market and continues to work on constant improvements.
