The compilation of the Anthology of Balkan Poetry "Hemus" is a long ordeal and the result of many people's systematic work set off by an inspiring idea of Stefan Gechev's.
We can't however leave the Anthology to its own fate and stop here.
Being of those who've had the fortune for several years now to be involved in Balkan literature, I can say that "HEMUS" is just the beginning. I'm convinced, though, that it is a good beginning. And we have to make the best use of it.
We’ve crossed a bridge. Now it has to be expanded, to make way for communication paths. I think the beginning should be undertaken with even greater effort by philologists, literary historians, the academic community, researchers and translators. The poetic anthology "HEMUS" represents only a small fraction of the poetic heritage of Balkan peoples. Everyone knows that the selection of three to five poems by a dozen poets from a given country is almost nothing. We have to become familiar with the older literary tradition in order to expand our knowledge of literary movement and the more modern trends. To learn which the literary schools are, but also what the inner history of each literary generation is. Congresses should be held, international meetings, book presentations and translations. There's much more to be done…

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We have to, however, clarify a few simple things. As I've come to be convinced these efforts cannot solely or exclusively be realized by the mediation of the state. And maybe they shouldn't. On the other hand in all our countries there are serious people and independent researchers; there are small research institutes and also university faculties. Maybe it is there that we should seek those who will try to implement a project for a mutual, extensive and comprehensive study of our cultures.
Don't expect this from official representative of government power occupying different positions.

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The Balkans have been pushed and shoved into a corner. This (hi)story is old, well-known, we, the Balkan people, have felt it on our backs. But the Balkan landscape is so rich: traditions, costumes, cuisine, patterns of behaviour, mentality, music heritage. Even languages and dialects have intertwined, mixed with each other, each one borrowing from all the rest. But the conflicts between ethnic and religious groups have also been violent. This Balkan landscape soaked in sweat and blood is something familiar, something close. In this landscape we repeat things: identical traditions, folk dresses, traditional cuisine, behavioural patterns, musical motives, folklore and folk song heritage. These common elements are our common culture. It is it that in the end dominates and remains. We have to be persistent and step on its strong founations. The Bosnian Serb poet Ilia Ladin writes,

Here lies a Tartar Fallen
Who fell to a Hungarian Remain Only
Who fell to a Slav One Lizard
Who fell to a Franc One Primrose
Who fell to a Goth One Gentle Breeze!
Eastern Soft
Who fell Vernal!

All
All

From all historical ordeals and fratricidal bloodsheds let there remain the primrose.

Translated from Greek into Bulgarian: Zdravka Mihailova
Translated from Bulgarian into English: Nadia Toromanova