European Humanities University > E.H.U. International Inaugural Conference

Dear Mr. President of the Republic of Lithuania,
Dear Mr. Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Dear Mr. Minister of Education,
Dear Mr. Ambassador of France in Vilnius, my dear colleague, who was so generous to allow me to act outside of the country of my accreditation,
Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Dear Anatoli Arsenievich,

About two years ago, within the precincts of the Rector’s Office of the European Humanities University, I awarded you with the insignia of Knights of Academic Palms Order. This event happened on March 6, 2003 in Minsk. At that time, over one thousand students of the University, led by you, were receiving education, which was both Belarusian and contemporary, oriented at the outside world. Alas! Despite all efforts of the international community, the most prestigious university among independent institutions of higher learning in post-Soviet area had its educational license cancelled in July 2004.

During the ceremony in Minsk, I cited the words of Philosopher and Historian Raymond Aron. He used to say about orders:
- “never ask for them,
- never reject them,
- never put them on.”

Taking into consideration the things that happened to you, I should add:
- “never consent to be robbed of them.”

Yet, Raymond Aron had no idea of what Belarus would be at the beginning of the twenty first century, neither could he imagine the situation which first would force you to leave the country and then go through a robbery in your apartment. It seemed to be an ordinary criminal case, but then there is a question to arise: why those mysterious burglars have taken only one thing with them – your Order of the Knight of Academic Palms?

Anatoli Arsenievich, according to the rules, I cannot pin the order on your shirt-front again after you have received it once. However, allow me to present to you on behalf of the French authorities, everyone who admires at the French Embassy, and of course, me personally with a duplicate of your rank’s insignia, without accompanying words.

You should not worry now: it is not likely that they will disappear again in Vilnius.

Now I would like to address Mr. Seguei Igorevich Pankovsky, former co-dean of the French-Belarusian Department for Political Sciences, who is here among us.

Serguei Igorevich, the French authorities made the decision to award you for your accomplishments during your service as Head of the French-Belarusian Department for Political Sciences at the European Humanities University and present you with insignia of Cavalier of the Academic Palms Order.

I would like to briefly remind our international audience that this order was established by the Emperor Napoleon at the beginning of the nineteenth century to be a reward for the efforts of all those people who chose the noble mission of imparting knowledge as their life aim. Imparting knowledge to younger generations by independent scholars within the precincts of independent universities and determining the content of this knowledge is the same concept, which today has as much power as two centuries ago.

I regret that I have to present you with this award for your activity in a university which no longer exists, and do it outside your country. I believe, however, that today’s ceremony has great symbolic meaning. What is that thing that unites us, regardless of our nationality, profession and position? It is advocacy of freedoms and democracy. In this hall today there are many citizens of the United States of America and numerous European countries, as well as highest-ranking representatives of the Republic of Lithuania – the country which hosts your University. Americans and Europeans, we have decided to defend the international European Humanities University. I am only observing the situation in Minsk, but I can report that the Belarusian civil society appreciates very deeply this fraternal support, which sends signs of friendship and courage from this side of the border. This civil society perceives the mighty wind that has been blowing back and forth between the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean across history – i.e. the wind of freedom. This wind is not willing to die, and the presence of us here, of the Old and New World, denotes that we will do everything to retain this wind in Belarus.

Mr. Pankovsky, your service at the European Humanities University, as well as the activity of your colleagues both here and in Minsk have always been in line with the trend I outlined before. Let me prove that to you.

Serguei Pankovsky,
on behalf of Mr. Gilles de Robien,
the Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research,
I initiate you into the Cavaliers of the Academic Palms Order.