Polish president Duda inaugurates academic year
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
01.10.2015 18:40
President of Poland Andrzej Duda took part in a ceremony on Thursday inaugurating the academic year at Kraków's Jagiellonian University, Poland's oldest seat of higher education.
President Andrzej Duda during the inauguration of the academic year at Kraków's Jagiellonian University. Photo: PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk
The head of state, who was sworn into power in August, said it was especially touching to take part in Thursday's ceremony as he not only obtained a master's degree and doctorate at the university, he is also technically an employee.
“I would not be President of the Republic if it had not been for the Jagiellonian University, and all I gained from the university,” he said.
“There is no academia without freedom and no freedom without academia,” he reflected.
“I mean freedom in every sense of the word - freedom in the proclamation of views, in their presentation, in their possession, in free thought.”
The president has also addressed the entire academic community nationwide, wishing members “inexhaustible passion in the pursuit of truth, satisfaction from their efforts and many significant achievements.”
Smog
While in Kraków, the president was also presented with a petition from local NGO Kraków Smog Alarm.
The NGO wants the head of state to sign the amendment to the Law on Environmental Protection. The legislation would ban the burning of coal and other solid fuels in domestic properties.
A 2013 report by the European Environment Agency found that Krakow had the third most polluted air of 383 cities across Europe. (nh/rk)
Source: PAP