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

Dear Rector Anatoli Mikhailov,

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

Firstly, I would like to beg your pardon for not being present at the Inaugural Conference of E.H.U. International. The highly intensive life of the European Parliament does not allow sudden changes in the working schedule.

I would like to congratulate you on the opening of E.H.U. International. Its predecessor, the European Humanities University, was a foundation of freedom of thought in the country suppressed by total control. I had the opportunity to meet with EHU students, and their intellectual potential and level of knowledge amazed me.

I have watched closely the efforts of EHU and its students, who have pursued the style of education they wanted thinking of a better future with broader opportunities in their home country. Indeed, there is nothing more dreadful than to restrict one’s freedom to choose education and nothing more shameful than to strive for subordinating the minds of the younger generation. There is nothing more malicious than to obliterate the potential of one’s people. It is difficult to imagine that once flourishing and respected University was forced to share the destiny of its students and look for asylum abroad.

The decision of the Lithuanian authorities to give shelter to this University commands respect and proves that Lithuania adheres firmly to the values of democracy and academic freedom. This opportunity gives E.H.U. International a chance to proceed with playing its role in imparting accurate and unbiased knowledge to young Belarusians in full accordance with European standards.

The Belarusians need well-educated young people who will bring and maintain democracy in Belarus in such a way that they never feel ashamed for the country they have built for their children. I hope that E.H.U. International will continue developing Belarusian science, culture and language, thus educating the real elite of the Belarusian nation.

I would like to assure you, dear Mr. Rector, that the efforts of my office will always be directed at developing the freedom of education, which I consider to be an inseparable part of democracy and a characteristic feature of true democratic states.

With respect,

Janusz Onyszkiewic