Sonia to be conferred Honoris Causa on Belgian visit

London, Nov 9 (UNI) UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, scheduled for a three-day visit to Belgium starting tomorrow, will receive Doctor Honoris Causa from the Free University of Brussels (VUB).

The Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt will hand her the honorary sign of Grand-Officer in Leopold Order. The degree will be awarded to her by Benjamin Van Camp, MD PhD and Rector of the VUB.

Mrs Gandhi will officially inaugurate the exhibition 'Tejas' at the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels on Saturday. She alongwith the Prime Minister Verhofstadt and Minister De Gucht will be welcomed at the direct access on Ravenstein street by Viscount Etienne Davignon and Paul Dujardin, president and director of the Centre for Fine Arts respectively and by Dr Karan Singh and Pavan Varma, president and director of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations respectively.

The event will be followed by the signing of the Golden Book among a select group of guests present in the Salon Royal including Dr Ranesh Ray, Curator and designer, Prof Jan Van Alphen, co-curator Dr Chauhan, Director National Museum (Delhi), Prof Benjamin Van Camp, Rector VUB.

Mrs Gandhi will initially participate in a ceremony at the Commonwealth Soldiers Monument in Ypres on the day she arrives, followed by two meetings, first at the Town Hall of Ypres then with the governor of the Province of East Flanders.

The Belgian Prime Minister will host a dinner for Mrs Gandhi at his residence.

On November 12, she will visit a Brussels Museum as well as the Saints Gudule and Michel's Church.

UNI XC MQA HT1820