Honorary Doctor Degree Awarding Ceremony for Director-General of UNESCO

On 21 June 2013, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam formally held an honorary doctor degree awarding ceremony for Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Thanh Son, President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam Dang Dinh Quy, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam Katherine Muller Marin as well as staffs, scholars and students of the academy.

The Diplomatic Academy awarded Honorary Doctorate to Irina Bokova

 As the daughter of the famous Bulgarian politician, Georgi Bokov, Ms. Irina was interested in politics from her early age. Graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations, she received numerous short-term scholarships to study at such well-known universities as the University of Maryland and John F. Kennedy School of Government (Harvard University) in the US. She started working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in 1977 and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 1997. On 22 September 2009, she brilliantly surpassed 9 other candidates to become the first woman holding the post of UNESCO Director-General.

Ms. Irina Bokova has made great contribution to strengthening international cooperation in education, science and culture, encouraging international cooperation to promote mutual understanding, as well as protecting peace and world security for the interest of mankind’s prosperity. Besides, Irina has also made ​​significant contribution to the development of good cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO.

In order to recognize her merits and contribution to Vietnam in the fields of culture and education in general and for the Academy in the future in particular, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam decided to award her an honorary doctorate. Irina expressed her honor to receive the award and stressed her belief in a good cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy and UNESCO.

After the ceremony, Ms. Irina Bokova had a talk to the academy’s students about culture for peace - development and cultural diplomacy. She stressed the issue of national identity preservation in each country’s policy, and the model of "sustainable human development". Accordingly, sustainability is reflected in the respect for cultural diversity, promotion of equality and adaptation to new demands and conditions.

Ms. Irina Bokova talked with the leadership of the Academy

I. Bokova highlighted the ASEAN’s role and called for the establishment of a strategic vision for an area of dynamism, openness, peace and deep integration into the world. At the same time, she welcomed Vietnam's efforts to build this community and support the ASEAN vision with the three pillars, namely securitypillar,economicpillar, and socio-culturalpillar.

In addition, I. Bokova appreciated Vietnam's efforts in preserving and developing the national culture in a new development era, as well as the positive contribution of Vietnam to protecting the culture of the UNESCO and the world.