During his visit to Rome to meet pope Benedict XVI, the President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, accompanied by Mrs. Elsi Christofia, will pay a visit to the Community of Sant' Egidio today at 7 pm. 

The President will visit the Soup kitchen of Via Dandolo 10 where, after visiting the various activities, he will meet a group of immigrants of the "Peace People" Movement of the Community of Sant'Egidio.  He will then come to the seat of the Community, in piazza S. Egidio, where he will meet the responsibles of the Community and in particular will have a talk with Prof. Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community, to whom he will confer the decoration of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Cyprus. 

During the visit President Christofias will sign an Agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the Community of Sant'Egidio that will provide support to the DREAM programme for treatment of HIV-AIDS in Africa - in Malawi and Guinea Conakry - for the year 2010. 

The President and the cypriot delegation will then take part in a supper in their honor at the seat of the Community. 

The connections between the Republic of Cyprus, its President and the Community of Sant'Egidio have strengthened along 2008 with the accomplishment of the great International Meeting of Prayer for Peace "The civilization of Peace, Faiths and Cultures in Dialogue", that took place on the island from 15 to 18 November 2008.