9 October 2018
October 9th, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia also a graduate of MGIMO University (1987) Miroslav Lajcak was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of the University.
The guest was warmly welcomed back to his alma mater by the University’s Rector Anatoly Torkunov who noted that Mr. Lajcak is not only Head of the Slovak Republic’s Foreign Ministry but has also just finished his term as President of the UN General Assembly. To the sounds of MGIMO’s official anthem, Anatoly Torkunov announced the decision of the University’s Academic Council to award Miroslav Lajcak the title of Honorary Doctor of MGIMO.
The Foreign Minister expressed his pleasure at receiving this title and his gratitude to the University for the knowledge and experience he gained during his studies at MGIMO 31 years ago. During his doctoral lecture, Miroslav Lajcak gave some valuable advice to the audience based on his personal experience. He mentioned his first diplomatic trip was to Moscow, and that in 1991 he left Czechoslovakia to go to the Soviet Union, and in 1993 he returned from Russia to Slovakia. These major changes in the political landscape taught him not to perceive things as a given, to be aware of the complexity of the world.
The speaker also stressed the importance of our responsibility towards our planet and future generations as well as the need for multilateralism in order to maintain global peace. Last of all, Miroslav Lajcak underlined how education is the key to mutual understanding and that MGIMO students should respect their alma mater, their professors and fellow students, as some may become ministers, he noted with humor.
— See the MGIMO web-site for more photos and russian version
