Date:10/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/10/stories/2008041055781200.htm

National

Honorary degree for Ansari

Harish Khare

Almaty (Kazakhstan): Vice-President Hamid Ansari was awarded an honorary degree by the prestigious Al-Farabi Kazakh National University here on Wednesday.

The citation, read out by the university Rector, Tolegen Kozhamkulov, applauded the Vice-President for furthering the cause of India-Kazakhstan relations.

Accepting the honour, Mr. Ansari said: “India’s focus since Independence has been to improve our people’s lives through inclusive economic development within a pluralist, secular, equitable and democratic framework. In making this effort, India has also decisively demonstrated that democracy and development are compatible and necessary for ensuring sustainability.”

The Vice-President said “the primary task of our foreign policy has been to enable the transformation of India’s society and economy, restoring traditional patterns of dealing with the world, and building strategic autonomy of choice.”

The function was attended by senior faculty members and students.

In his opening remarks, the Rector gave details of exchange of scholars and teachers between the university and various centres of higher learning in India.

The university is one of the oldest educational institutions in Central Asia.