The Ceremony of Conferring the Honorary Doctorate of the University of Sarajevo upon
H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
The Ceremony of Conferring the Honorary Doctorate of the University of Sarajevo upon H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia in the period of 1981 – 2003, was held in the Conference Hall of the Rectorate of the University of Sarajevo.
Prof. Dr Faruk Caklovica, Rector, commenced the formal act of the promotion ceremony, and on behalf of all professors, staff, and students of the University of Sarajevo, wished a warmly welcome to H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, the members of the Malaysian delegation, and all those who attended the event. During his welcoming speech, Rector Caklovica stated: “It is special honor for us to have H.E. Tun as a candidate for the University of Sarajevo’s honorary doctorate. In the world of modern politics, H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad occupies a special place of the most successful Prime Minister of today, whose prudent decisions and swift actions, during his term in the office as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, transformed his homeland from the state of high backwardness into the one of most developed world countries. Particularly, during that period and later, You led the most decisive and unselfish campaign for progress, peace and prosperity in the world.”
Rector Caklovica also stated that Tun Dr Mahathir was are coming from the country that had been , during the most difficulty historic period both for Bosnia and Herzegovina and her existence, a loyal friend of Bosnian people, full of sympathy for their pain and suffering. “During that very difficult period, Malaysia provided free studies and accommodation for several hundreds of undergraduate and postgraduate students from B&H. These experts are in B&H today, working at very important positions, incorporating the knowledge gained directly into the development of B&H society, thus leading it towards developed and modern world.”
The Faculty of Machine Engineering had started an initiative of awarding H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad by the Honorary Doctorate of the University of Sarajevo. The initiative was supported by the Teaching and Scientific Councils of following faculties of the University of Sarajevo: the Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civic Engineering and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
Prof. Dr Ejub Dzaferovic, fulltime professor of the Faculty of Machine Engineering, submitted a report on the candidacy of H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, where he stated: “Mr. Mahathir proved, in his international activities, his sympathies for Bosnia and Herzegovina and peoples living there, by taking an active role as the “Ambassador of Peace” in settling down war conflicts, and later, by helping reconstruction and development of our country. He was trying to transpose his positive experience that correct interethnic relations can be achieved only by justice, consistency and economic prosperity, even to the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order with that, his role has been very active in connecting economy and universities of both countries via international projects. The University of Sarajevo has a very considerable cooperation with universities in Malaysia and with Malaysian companies as well. The cooperation reflects in mutual realization of teaching and scientific projects.”
H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad was awarded by the Honorary Doctorate of the University of Sarajevo as a recognition of his immense support and contribution to the reconstruction and development of multiethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina. Prof. Dr Faruk Caklovica, Rector of the University of Sarajevo, after Professor Dzaferovic submitted his report, handed over a diploma to H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir and stated: “ The name of H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia in the period of 1981 – 2003, has been written today into the "Golden book” of the University of Sarajevo, and joined the names of other holders of the honorary doctoral degree, such as: Nobel Laureates Ivo Andric and Vladimir Prelog, members of the Academy Mesa Selimovic, Vaso Butozan, Edhem Camo and others, promoter of human rights and democracy Simon Wiesenthal, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of The Republic of Turkey, and many others as well.“
H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad conveyed warm greetings to the present and thanked on the acknowledgement, which has for him a very special importance because it highlights the good relations between two friendly countries: Malaysia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. “I was stunned by beauty of Sarajevo, and horrified at the same time by the effects of the recent war. All those consequences deeply affected the Malaysian people too. We, as the Malaysian nation, were always against the war as the way of resolving conflicts. Even then we were determined to help Bosnia and Herzegovina, but unfortunately we were not able to do much. Particularly because of that, Malaysia is strongly determined to take an active role in further development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Efforts have been already made on engaging many investors that will start economic development and reduce unemployment. We have also founded an organization that will try to provide help to poor countries, and we will take in consideration every possible means to help your country. I would like to use this occasion to thank all members of the University of Sarajevo for the given honor.”
