JERUSALEM, July 28, 2010(WAFA)- Al-Quds University awarded honorable Doctorate, today, to the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Ángel Moratinos.
In a big ceremony at the university the highest awards of Honor was handed to “distinguished guests,” the head of the Trustees Council Ahmad Qurai said.
He added, “The family of Al-Quds University celebrates today the conferring of Honoris Causa Doctorate to Mr. Miguel Moratinos the Diplomat, longtime Politician, and the minister of foreign affairs of Spain with a career full of accomplishments, in the Political arena, and Humanitarian causes that resulted in awarding him highest awards of Honor.”
“Mr. Moratinos long-time expertise in the Political and diplomatic arena, holding diplomatic ranks and a number of political positions, he also head the position of the special European Commission Rep. for overseeing the peace process in the Middle East during 1996-2003 up to the time when he was appointed the Minister of foreign affairs in the Spanish government,” adding “he continued to push forward the peace process on the Palestinian and other Arab countries level.”
“He supports the Palestinians in elevating the suffering, the lifting of siege for the Palestinian people, and he contributes to developing Palestinian – Spanish-European relations,” Qurai said.
With this decision the university confirms the status of academics, students, and the people in their appreciation to the role of Mr. Moratinos in confirming the riotous of the Palestinian case and in continuing his support to the Palestinians in achieving the Palestinians national rights to return, self determination, and establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem (Al-Quds Al-Shareef) as its capital.
Moratinos said, “I am honored to receive today this most valuable degree from Al-Quds university, this academic institution is managing to project the entire world the true image of Palestinian excellence, and it is helping to materialize Palestinian aspirations for justice and state hood. I am extremely encouraged to be part of this reality, and I am very proud to participate in your noble project.”
He added “I present my respect to the members of the board of trustees, and to the students and all my Palestinian friends. now the Palestinians are capable of, with their wisdom, their perseverance and their entrepreneurship, I am convinced that they can now lay the ground for the institutions of their future state.”
Moratinos stated “The next few months will witnesses another attempt to establish through negotiations the parameters of this state: its borders, its security and that of neighboring Israel, solving the questin of the refugees and the status of Jerusalem as the capital of both states.”
“in another word negotiation must be given another opportunity, but this time they must bring about a definitive breakthrough,” he stressed.
“President Abbas has undertaken program that has deeply transformed the internal Palestinian situation in three basic areas: his unequivocal commitment to non violence, determined option for democracy, constant pursuit of Palestinian unity,” he added, “Serious negotiations must start now. I call on all leaders to support the relaunching of direct negotiations between the parties. international community must do the utmost to create the best possible atmosphere for the talks,…. I will spare no efforts to facilitate this.”
At the end he said, “Gaza is an essential part of Palestine and its future state. I intend to visit Gaza soon, where I would like to deliver this same message of hope and peace. I call on all parties to continue the steps that have been taken recently to lift the blockade.”
