In a grand ceremony, AAB College today honored the Israeli-Argentinian Nobel laureate, Mr. Ernesto Kahan, with the title “Doctor Honoris Causa,” with the motivation: for his continuous contribution to promoting peace in the world through art and literature.
With the “Doctor Honoris Causa” award, AAB College also honored the Albanian historian Mr. Uran Butka, with the motivation: for his contribution to Albanian history, literature, and culture.
State representatives, civil society representatives, professors, and students participated in the awarding ceremony.
Prof. Dr. Lulzim Tafa, Rector of AAB College, said before the guests that he feels honored to award the title “Doctor Honoris Causa” to two distinguished personalities of global stature. In his welcome speech, he added that honoring these two distinguished figures, Mr. Kahan and Mr. Butka, also makes the first non-public institution in the country, AAB College, proud.
“Mr. Ernesto Kahan is one of the prominent global personalities who has dedicated his life to science, literature, art, and above all, to peace. After all, this is what the world needs, this is what humanity needs. The world, with Mr. Kahan, feels stronger and safer.
Meanwhile, today’s other laureate, Mr. Uran Butka, is a personality of national dimensions—a historian, writer, researcher, dissident, and intellectual of difficult times for Albania and Albanians, a man who has done much, worked hard, and sacrificed greatly. Uran Butka’s works carry special importance and weight in Albanian history and literature,” said Rector Tafa.
Meanwhile, AAB College professor Venera Llunji, acting as laudator for Mr. Ernesto Kahan, said that as a result of his dedication, commitment, and tireless work in representing universal humanism in the fields of medicine and literature, the Senate of the College has decided to award the title Doctor Honoris Causa for outstanding merits in literature and universal humanism to the professor, doctor, humanist, and poet Ernesto Kahan.
In the presence of guests, Prof. Ekrem Kyreziu, laudator for the “Doctor Honoris Causa” award for historian and writer Mr. Uran Butka, said that Butka was an unparalleled historian and an Albanian activist who dedicated his life to his work. A passionate man who throughout his life fought to leave a mark on humanity.
In his thank-you speech, AAB College’s honorary doctor Ernesto Kahan said that Kosovo is a country the whole world should know about. “When I visit you, everyone tells me: we are a small state, but I know and feel that you are a great state, with a wonderful culture and long history. You as a people are proud of your identity and language. I believe the world must know more about you,” said Mr. Kahan. He pledged that it will be his responsibility to represent Kosovo worldwide.
On the other hand, the second laureate, Mr. Uran Butka, expressed deep gratitude to AAB College for the award given. He further added that AAB cultivates modern, academic, scientific, democratic, and civilized values.
Since its establishment until today, AAB College has honored only three distinguished personalities with the title “Doctor Honoris Causa”: the President of Croatia Mr. Stjepan Mesić, for his extraordinary contribution and support for the freedom and independence of Kosovo; the President of the Republic of Honduras, only a few days after that country recognized the independence of Kosovo; and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in our country, the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Robert Bosch.
