Paphos municipality has launched its advertising campaign to become 2017 European Capital of Culture.Running under the slogan “Linking continents: bridging cultures”, the municipality hopes to win the prestigious award by drawing upon its archaeological heritage and location as Europe’s easternmost city.

Coordinator for Paphos 2017 steering bid Phemis Filippides said yesterday: “We want to play with the position of Paphos as the easternmost European city –It provides the possibility to open the cultural horizons of the Middle East and North Africa.”

The one area where Paphos may struggle to compete with main rivals Nicosia and Limassol is in infrastructure.

Asked how this might affect Paphos’ chances, Filippides said: “Infrastructure is not our strongest point, but I feel we can give additional emphasis in other areas, and we believe that this is not everything.”

The current advertising campaign can be seen in the press, on the airwaves and online at www.pafos2017.com, with TV adverts to follow.

Nicosia’s 2017 European Capital of Culture bid is also well under way after receiving a boost last month when it received the backing of Larnaca, Strovolos, Lakatamia, Engomi, Ayios Dometios, Aglantzia, Latsia and Idalion municipalities.

Limassol look set to follow Nicosia’s collaborative approach and to team up with local municipalities. Limassol Mayor Andreas Christou said: “We’re in consultation with neighbouring municipalities and communities who might decide to support our bid”.

The 2017 award will go to two different cities in Europe, one in Cyprus and one in Denmark, who will then have to prepare the annual programme of cultural events.

According to the European Commission, the proposed programme must be “sustainable and an integral part of the long-term cultural and social development of the city”.

The award selection panel will consist of seven EU-representatives and six members drawn from the Education and Culture Ministry.

The panel will evaluate each candidate city’s programme’s potential for fostering a connectedness to the urban centre in both its residents as well as in its foreign visitors, as described by the European Commission’s guidelines.

The deadline for the pre-selection phase has been extended from October to December this year, giving the EU one year to decide the winner, which will be announced in May 2013.