The photography exhibition “Applied Nostalgia: Belgrade – Nicosia” was officially opened last night at Eleftheria Square in Nicosia, in the presence of representatives of the institutions of the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Serbia, the diplomatic corps, artists and numerous citizens. After a successful presentation in Belgrade, the exhibition, organised by the Ministry of European Integration with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Cyprus, reached the Cypriot audience, bringing a unique visual dialogue between two cities and two cultures through the lenses of photographers Nemanja Jovanović and George Charalambous, who also attended the opening.
The opening of the exhibition was addressed by Acting Assistant Minister of European Integration Marko Miškeljin, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Republic of Cyprus Suzana Bošković-Prodanović, Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus Giorgos Papageorgiou, and photographer George Charalambous. In his address, Miškeljin emphasised that the exhibition represents a symbolic contribution to strengthening European dialogue, cooperation and solidarity, especially at a time when the presidency of the Republic of Cyprus of the Council of the EU is reaching its conclusion. He stressed that it is precisely culture that confirms that European cooperation is not just a matter of institutions, economy or politics, but is above all a basis for encounters between people, ideas and shared values.
Speaking about relations between Serbia and Cyprus, Miškeljin pointed to the traditional friendship and mutual trust that binds the two countries, expressing his gratitude to the Republic of Cyprus for its continuous support to Serbia's European perspective. He stressed that Serbia remains committed to implementing reforms and advancing on its path towards European Union membership, assessing that the enlargement policy remains one of the key instruments for strengthening the stability, security and prosperity of Europe. As he noted, the photographs presented at the exhibition show that Belgrade and Nicosia are not just geographical points on a map, but spaces of shared experiences, memories and values that connect their citizens.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Republic of Cyprus, Suzana Bošković-Prodanović, emphasised that the exhibition “Applied Nostalgia: Belgrade – Nicosia” represents much more than a presentation of the two capitals through photography; it is a broader visual dialogue between the two capitals that are connected by history, culture, tradition and common values. She recalled that both Belgrade and Nicosia share the same symbolic meaning of the name – “White City”, stressing that the photographs testify to their similarity, from historical fortifications and Orthodox heritage to modern urban entities which symbolise development and the European future. She particularly congratulated the Republic of Cyprus on its successful presidency of the Council of the EU and expressed her gratitude for its strong support to the enlargement policy, emphasising that European integration remains the most important foreign policy priority of the Republic of Serbia.
The Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, Giorgos Papageorgiou, assessed that the exhibition represents an example of successful cultural cooperation between Serbia and Cyprus, and confirmation of the significance of art as a means of connecting people and communities. He emphasised that public spaces like Eleftheria Square play an important role in bringing culture closer to citizens, while photography allows everyday life, identity, and the transformation of cities to be viewed from a new perspective. Papageorgiou expressed his gratitude to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Republic of Cyprus and the Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia for the implementation of this project, assessing that it further strengthens the cultural ties and friendship between the two countries.
The Deputy Mayor of Municipality of Agios Dometios in Nicosia, Konstantinos Yiangou, emphasised the importance of such projects for connecting different cultures and communities. “The City of Nicosia is pleased to support initiatives which encourage dialogue, cultural exchange and mutual understanding among European cities and citizens,” emphasised Yiangou. He particularly pointed to the importance of friendly relations between Cyprus and Serbia.
“We greatly appreciate the friendship between Cyprus and Serbia, and the opportunity to celebrate it through the universal language of art.”
The exhibition will be open until 5 July, and special gratitude is extended to the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, Permanent Secretary Giorgos Papageorgiou and his team, the Municipality of Nicosia and Sotiris Hatzinikolaou, the Honorary Consul of Serbia in Cyprus Kypros Eliades, and engineer Miloš Ilić, who, with their selfless commitment, have contributed to the realisation of the exhibition and enabled its display in a public space, making this project accessible to a wider audience.
