It’s plain wrong

Published: Saturday October 27, 2007

Yerevan State University on October 22 bestowed an honorary doctorate and a gold medal on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran. In doing so, it disgraced itself.

It is right and proper for Armenia to maintain good relations and develop bilateral relations with all its neighbors, including Iran, which is home to a significant Armenian community.

That does not, however, require an Armenian university to honor Iran's president. In conferring an honorary degree, a university looks at the honoree's merits. Mr. Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust, and has refused to affirm the Armenian Genocide. The very day after receiving the honor, he snubbed the Armenian people by skipping his previously agreed-upon visit to the Armenian Genocide memorial at Tzitzernakaberd where his predecessor, Mohammad Khatami laid a wreath just over three years ago.

The leadership of the university showed an utter lack of judgment in choosing to honor Mr. Ahmadinejad.