* Brussels exhibition shows Cyprus through the ages *
President Demetris Christofias is in Strasbourg where he will present before the Plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, the programme and the priorities of Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, entitled "Towards a better Europe".
Christofias’ schedule of meetings include the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and leaders of the various political groups at the European Parliament.
In the morning the President will have two hours to present before the European Parliament the programme and the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency and debate the issues with MEPs.
The four main priorities announced by the Cyprus Presidency are a more efficient and sustainable Europe; a Europe with a better performing and growth-based economy; a Europe that is more relevant to its citizens, with solidarity and social cohesion, and a Europe in the world, closer to its neighbours.
The Cyprus EU Presidency’s focus will be for the European Union to emerge stronger from the current economic crisis and reinstate its place in the international scene.
On Monday, President Christofias inaugurated an exhibition on "Mapping Cyprus 1191- 2012 Crusaders – Traders and Explorers" at the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, on the occasion of the assumption of the EU Presidency by Cyprus.
Present at the event were European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Youth and Sport, Androulla Vassiliou, the Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki and Vice Prime Minister of Belgium, Laurette Onkelinx.
The exhibition presents Cyprus through historical moments and the island’s most important Byzantine and post-Byzantine art.
It also describes the island’s relations with Europe and how these have been recorded by major European artists, cartographers, writers and ordinary people.
Forty-five icons of monasteries and churches have been selected and placed at the Bozar among them maps, manuscripts, photographs and other materials from European sources, museums, libraries and galleries.
The exhibition will remain open until September 23.
