I was very happy to find out that I have been awarded the Gjenima Prize in literature. It is a great honor for me. Literary awards make writers more confident in their work, their calling. Writers cannot judge their own work. The great Russian poet Boris Pasternak says "You shouldn't be able to tell your own victory from defeat." So, a literary award gives a writer new strength to keep going and go further.

I would like to thank those who nominated me for the Gjenima Prize and the jury who honored me with this award. I am very grateful to the founder and coordinator of the prize, Gjeke Marinaj. In Russia, I coordinate the Debut Prize awarded to young writers, and I know how much work and what a responsibility it is.

I would like to thank especially my wonderful translator, Marian Schwartz. It is thanks to her that my books, and first of all my novel 2017 will hopefully soon come out in English. I believe, my works translated into English by Marian Schwartz that have already been published had something to do with me winning the Gjenima Prize today.

I am sure that the Gjenima Prize will increase the number of my readers and that I will find new readers here, among this highly professional audience, in the United States of America.