İsen made a phone call to Kemal earlier this week to inform him that the annual Presidential Culture and Art Grand Award for 2008 had been bestowed upon him. Kemal, however, said he did not like to receive awards and that he could not accept it. İsen told Kemal he should regard the award as something above politics, adding that he would contribute greatly to the restoration of social peace if he accepted it. "You should see this award as a show of appreciation for the contributions you have made to Turkish literature and culture. This award will be granted to you by an authority that represents Turkey," İsen went on to say. Kemal, in response, said he would think for a while. He later called İsen back and told him he would accept the award. In a written statement he released after deciding to accept the award, Kemal said, "I see the granting of this award to me as a step indicating that the path toward the continuation of the fight for peace, human rights and social peace will be cleared of obstacles."
Kemal is a leading Turkish author whose works have been published in dozens of languages. He has been named among candidates for the Nobel Prize in literature and has won numerous international awards and honors, including the Cino del Duca World Prize in 1982 and France's Légion d'Honneur in 1984. The author's most prominently recognized novel, "İnce Memed" (Mehmed My Hawk), has been published in 40 languages. Over 140 editions of his works have been published outside of Turkey.
This year the Presidential Culture and Art Grand Award in Architecture will be given to Turgut Cansever, and the award in music will be given to composer Aleaddin Yavaşça. The awards are to be bestowed in December.
Benzer Haberler 
