OREANDA-NEWS. On 17 April 2008 was announced, that the social policy of BTA Bank underlies the involvement of the outstanding classic of contemporary world literature in its Board of Directors. BTA as an international financial institution views support to the humanitarian development as a part of its mission designed to maintain an affinity of cultural and historical space of the CIS as well as culture’s build-up in all countries where the banking conglomerate operates.

Aitmatov’s oeuvre is as global as BTA activities. He has contributed to the treasury of Kyrgyz and Kazakh prose and the world cultural heritage. UNESCO has named Aitmatov the most read writer worldwide after Shakespeare and Tolstoy. His books are translated into 176 languages and published in 128 countries with a total number of copies 80,000 books sold worldwide.

This year will be memorable for the literature community of the CIS and everyone who adores Aitmatov’s oeuvre as the writer turns 80 in December. BTA Bank finances publication of Aitmatov’s collection in eight volumes and an album covering his prolific output. BTA Management is convinced that support to whizzes of the classical stage, cinema and literate contributes to cross-fertilization of cultures and will maintain spiritual continuance of generations.