Pafos2017 Chairman’s Speech Dr.Christos Patsalides
Your Excellency Mr. President of the Republic of Cyprus, Your Beatitude, your Holiness, Mr. Commissioner of the European Commission, Dear Leaders of Parliamentary Parties, Dear Ministers, Dear Ambassadors, Dear Members of the Parliament, Dear Mayors of Pafos, Geroskipou and Pegeia, Dear Mayors and representatives of other European cities, Distinguished guests from Cyprus and Europe, Dear fellow citizens,
Dear friends,
Welcome to the European Capital of Culture! Welcome to Pafos!
Ladies and gentlemen,
Tonight, Pafos officially assumes the role of the European Capital of Culture.
As Chairman of the Organisation Pafos2017, I am deeply honoured and, at the same time, happy and humbled that my city, our city, the district of Pafos, as well as the whole of Cyprus, officially welcomes tonight the historic title of the European Capital of Culture, a title we share with the city of Aarhus in Denmark.
Tonight, here in Pafos, we welcome Europe and its people, the common culture and the common values which our city, our country, not only are part of, but have also helped shape throughout the centuries.
All the things we have so relentlessly worked for, the vision Pafos and its residents have worked for, tonight turn into reality. Here and now begins a voyage that, in my opinion, will last not only for a year, but for many more years to come.
The opening of the most important cultural institution in the history of Europe, constitutes both an honour and a responsibility for our little Pafos, and at the same time a new prospect and window. The European Capital of Culture’s programme “Open Air Factory” is a unique opportunity to not only create in open air spaces, in special and historical locations, but also an opportunity for us to open our eyes and sensations, to open up and bridge cultures, to diminish the differences between our communities and, of course, to converse and co-create with the rest of Europe’s people and cultures.
The European Capital of Culture is an opportunity for Pafos to become a modern, dynamic city, producing and supporting culture, but, also, inviting and actively involving all its residents and visitors, so that they can take a voyage with the programme of the European Capital of Culture Pafos2017 to discover actions, events and happenings through which they will discover their own selves, the history and the culture, but also to lay solid foundations for our common future.
The spirit of openness, of bridging and exceeding differences is expressed throughout our programme with a series of projects and actions which create bridges and link Europe, the Mediterranean, the West and the East, rendering Pafos the bridge and meeting point between continents, countries and people.
The Administrative Board of the Organisation Pafos2017 and myself, in my capacity as Chairman, feel especially proud since all this was created under truly difficult circumstances, both financial and social. I would like to firstly thank everyone who has worked during the nomination process, the artistic team and the volunteers. Special thanks to everyone who has worked and contributed to the completion and implementation of the programme, today’s artistic direction, the Organisation’s workforce, my colleagues in the Administrative Board, our proud volunteers, the competent authorities and bodies, the Ministry of Education and Culture, other ministries and authorities, and, of course, the state, the Government, the participating artists and social partners, the sponsors and, above all, the people who believed, embraced, offered and continue to offer towards this vision.
Dear friends,
Indeed, the circumstances under which we had to work from the very first day we assumed our role as Organisation, have been truly difficult and the obstacles have been significant. Many doubted us and did not believe we could succeed. But our passion, our vision for Pafos and our Capital of Culture, gave us the tenacity to work hard and methodically as an Organisation, without too many words, to succeed. And I believe that not only did we succeed, but we feel twice as proud that the European Commission honoured us with the Melina Mercouri Award, and that, as the competent European commission stated in its final evaluation “Pafos is now an example for other small cities of Europe of how they can assume and achieve a successful programme, worthy of the title.”
Ladies and gentlemen,
Tonight, Pafos officially opens its year as a European Capital of Culture, based on its history and myths according to which, Pafos, the result of the union between the Creator, Pygmalion and Galatea can be nothing less than a Piece of Art.
Dear fellow citizens, let’s turn the dream into reality and let’s transform our city into a true Piece of Art of which we can all be proud.
We look forwards, we look into the future and we consider today to be the beginning of a bright and optimistic future, for us, for our city, for Cyprus, for Europe.
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