Pahor receives honorary doctorate at Lisbon University

Lisbon – President Borut Pahor was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Lisbon at a special ceremony on Tuesday. He was honoured for his efforts to promote dialogue and for his continued commitment to fundamental European values, the president’s office said.

In his speech at the ceremony, president Pahor expressed his gratitude for the recognition, and stressed that the European project is based on unity and reconciliation.

“Without reconciliation between the opposing military forces of WWII, without reconciliation between neighbours, there would have been no European project,” he said.

Pahor also underlined the importance of the foundations of the EU, its values and principles, and expressed his conviction that the strengthening of European integration will continue, regardless of recent ups and downs.

As part of Pahor’s official two-day visit in Portugal, he and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also met international relations students in Lisbon and held a discussion on Europe’s future and the importance of dialogue.

The students were particularly interested in Slovenia’s role in the Western Balkans, and Pahor presented his views on the current situation in the region and the importance of the Brdo-Brijuni process, the president’s office said.

Pahor began his visit on Monday, when he met his Portuguese counterpart, Prime Minister Antonio Costa and the parliamentary speaker, Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues. De Sousa and Pahor also inaugurated a bench of friendship in Lisbon.

Pahor’s visit to Portugal, which will conclude today, took place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on 3 February.

The post Pahor receives honorary doctorate at Lisbon University appeared first on Slovenia Times.