University of Jordan confers Honorary Doctorate on President Pranab Mukherjee

University of Jordan confers Honorary Doctorate on President

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee receives the doctoral hood at a ceremony at the University of Jordan in Amman on Sunday, where he received an honorary doctorate (Photo by Hassan Tamimi) 

Countries adopting a policy of selectiveness in identifying and dealing with terrorists especially those who allow these forces to thrive on their territories will eventually be endangered by the very same actors, says President in address to students and faculty 

The University of Jordan conferred Honorary Doctorate in Political Science on President Pranab Mukherjee today (October 11, 2015) at a ceremony in Amman. 

Speaking on the occasion, the President said India attaches high importance to its friendship with Jordan. Over the years, relationship between India and Jordan has been enhanced by the excellent understanding between the Governments on regional and global issues and their support for each other in multilateral fora including the United Nations. The two countries’ convergence of views on Palestine, the Middle East Peace Process, Syria, Iraq and the challenges confronting in the region today and the agreement on the need to expedite UNSC reforms reflect common approach to these important issues. 

The President said India has and will remain committed to peaceful recourse in its external as well as internal policies. Instability in the neighbourhood can threaten the security and slow down progress. At a time when the entire world is affected by the scourge of terrorism, it is important to recognize that India has been preoccupied with this menace for over four decades. Terrorism emanating from our neighbourhood remains a major security threat to us. We believe that addressing this challenge should be a major priority of the international community. India believes that countries adopting a policy of selectiveness in identifying and dealing with terrorists - especially those who allow these forces to thrive on their territories - will eventually be endangered by the very same actors. India commends Jordan's efforts in confronting the menace of terrorism and its participation in regional and international efforts in this direction. 

The President said India’s traditional support to the Palestinian cause remains steadfast and unwavering while we pursue strong relations with Israel. India’s bilateral relations with Israel are independent of its relations with Palestine. India supports a negotiated solution resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders. India desires to see Palestine living side by side at peace with Israel as endorsed in the Quartet Roadmap and relevant UNSC Resolutions. India has played a proactive role in garnering support for this cause in all multilateral fora. India has called upon both sides to exercise restraint and work towards a comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian issue. India has been happy to provide budgetary, economic and developmental assistance to Palestine. 

The President said India also remains deeply concerned at the ongoing violence in Syria. India has been consistently calling for all sides in the Syrian conflict to abjure violence so that conditions can be created for an inclusive political dialogue. We see this as the only path to a comprehensive, permanent, political solution as there can be no military solution to this conflict. We have been stating that such a dialogue must take into account the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria. India believes that Syria has a key and fundamental part to play in achieving peace and stability in West Asia. Prolonged conflict in Syria has already begun to have a severe impact on the region and beyond. 

The President said he was indeed happy to be associated with the University of Jordan, one of the oldest and most acclaimed centres of learning in the Arab world, through the Honorary Doctorate. He expressed the hope that his visit to University of Jordan will result in the strengthening of the existing partnerships and forging of new collaborations between the University of Jordan and Indian centres of higher education. India looks forward to welcoming more and more students and researchers from this great nation. 

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Indian president receives honorary doctorate from UJ

AMMAN — The University of Jordan (UJ) on Sunday conferred an honorary doctorate on India’s President Pranab Mukherjee in recognition of his contributions to India and world countries.

At a ceremony that was held at the university’s engineering faculty, UJ President Ekhleif Tarawneh said the UJ council of deans decided to confer an honorary doctorate in political science on India’s president, in recognition of his achievements as a “visionary statesman, politician and economist who has rendered great contributions to humanity”.

Underscoring his accomplishments, Tarawneh said the president is known for cultivating tolerance, strengthening Indo-Arab relations and supporting Arab causes, besides spearheading critical decisions to forge unity and foster cooperation. 

The Indian president thanked Jordan and UJ for the honorary degree.

“It is a great privilege,” he said, expressing hope that his visit will help “in strengthening cooperation and forging partnerships” between the two countries. 

The president also delivered a lecture at UJ, highighing the deep ties between his country and Jordan and their growth over the years.

India’s Ambassador to Jordan Anil Trigunayat told The Jordan Times that India has extended a line of credit of $100 million to Jordan for promoting trade and economic cooperation and doubled scholarships for Jordan from 25 to 50.

“We also agreed to work more closely on counterterrorism,” he said on the sidelines of the ceremony at UJ.

The diplomat also extended gratitude to His Majesty King Abdullah and to Jordan for supporting India’s bid for a permanent seat in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.  

“We are grateful to His Majesty King Abdullah and Jordan for extending their fullest support to India’s bid for a permanent seat for a reformed and expanded UNSC, as well as for the UN reforms in general during this 70th anniversary of UN,” he added. 

Zu’bi Al Zu’bi, who is chairman of the UJ business management department, described the Indian president’s visit as a move in the right direction, saying it is pivotal in reducing political dependency on the traditional players in the region. 

Economically speaking, he said Jordan can increase its exports to India, especially natural resources.  

Earlier in the day, an Indian academic delegation, representing leading Indian universities, signed memoranda of understanding with five Jordanian universities. 

They are the UJ, Yarmouk University, Balqa Applied Universiy, Al al Bayt University and Al Isra University, Professor Sudhir K. Sopory, vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University told The Jordan Times.  

“We are looking into some exchange programmes and areas of cooperation,” he noted.  

“We are happy to see that there are closer relations between the Arab world and India,” Talat Ahmad, vice chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamia University, commented. 

The academic delegates also included Partha P. Chakrabarti of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and Professor M. M. Chaturvedi, director of India’s Cluster Innovation Centre. 

Mukherjee, who is accompanied by government officials and parliament members representing major political parties in India, began his official visit to the Kingdom on Saturday during which he held discussions with King Abdullah that addressed ways to boost economic cooperation and foster Indo-Jordanian coordination in different fields. 

The Indian president is also scheduled to visit the West Bank and Israel. 

Also on Sunday, Mukherjee visited Al Hussein Park, where he planted an olive sapling for world peace.

He was accompanied by Labour Minister Nidal Katamine, Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji and several officials, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The president also inaugurated the Mahatma Gandhi Street in Abdoun. 

Mukherjee thanked Jordanians for their hospitality, commending the Greater Amman Municipality’s decision to name the street after Gandhi, according to Petra.

Later on Sunday, he visited the Citadel archaeological site in Amman’s Jabal Qalaa neighbourhood and was briefed on its history.