Constant in Semionov, a leading Soviet writer, declared here today that problems arising between Israel and Russia should be tackled gradually without pressure. In a three-hour conversation with Israeli writers, he added that the best way for two peoples to begin to understand each other was by translating their literary works into one another’s language.
Replying to a question about the fate of many Jewish writers under Communism, he said there was “no use in glossing over history” and that “there were periods when Jews suffered from persecution.” He added that “this is ended.” “We pledged after the 20th Communist Party Congress that no form of repression would be possible again,” he said.
He disclosed he was writing a book “which will answer many of your unspoken questions.” In his suggestion for cross-translations, he told the writers that “hundreds of gems of Hebrew poetry” could be translated into Russian. He noted that one book of Hebrew short stories has already appeared in Russian. He proposed as another way of fostering good relations exchange of visits.
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