Cyprus Independence Day, was celebrated in Brussels, on Wednesday, during an event in front of the Manneken Pis, the iconic statue-symbol of Brussels, which was dressed with the traditional Cypriot vraka.
The event, held during early afternoon on Wednesday in Brussels, drew a large crowd of Cypriots. The Republic of Cyprus and its Permanent Representation to the EU were represented by Ambassador Petros Mavrikios, Head of the Cyprus Mission to the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC). The City of Brussels was represented by Karin Lalieux, City Councillor responsible for Culture. Also present were members of the Order of Friends of Manneken Pis, as well as Nicolas Edelman, the Official Dresser of the statue.
In his remarks, Ambassador Mavrikios thanked the City of Brussels for its warm welcome and hospitality.
“Today, we celebrate independence, but we also remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives to make this goal a reality,” Mavrikios said.
He added that despite the challenges of occupation, Cyprus has worked to build a modern, vibrant, and prosperous nation, with the remarkable achievement of EU accession in 2004 as a testament to its commitment to the values at the heart of the European project, respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
“Cyprus is proud to be a member of the European family, working closely with the other member states to improve our societies, protect our citizens, and fulfil our potential,” he underlined.
Karin Lalieux, Brussels’ Municipal Councilor for Culture, highlighted that Manneken Pis is a symbol of Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and that today’s event, dressing the statue in Cyprus’ national costume, is a sign of the city’s friendship with Cyprus.
For his part, Nicolas Edelman, who has exclusively dressed Manneken Pis since 2014, told CNA that while the vraka was a bit more challenging to fit compared to other costumes, he was prepared for the task. “It’s was a bit more difficult, but I’ve been dressing Manneken Pis since 2014, and I’m ready for all challenges,” he noted.
The national costume, featuring the vraka, was donated to the City of Brussels by the Cypriot Embassy in 2010 ahead of Cyprus Independence Day and is displayed in the museum’s “Manneken Pis, a Very European Brussels Resident” exhibit alongside other EU national costumes.