Croatian President Awarded Honorary Doctorate During Visit to Russia

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Plekhanov Russian University of Economics (PRUE) on Friday granted the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

"First of all, thank you very much for the honor you have given me. I became an honorary doctor at the Plekhanov University, which is one of the largest and most prestigious universities, which for many years has been engaged in higher economic education," Grabar-Kitarovic said during the official ceremony dedicated to her visit to the PRUE.

The Croatian president added that she was aware of the PRUE's potential and results, adding that they were helping to promote Russian economic science in the world.

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Duro Njavro, the dean of Zagreb School of Economics and Management (ZSEM), also expressed gratitude to the PRUE for awarding the honorary title to Grabar-Kitarovic.

During the ceremony, the PRUE and and the ZSEM signed an agreement on the implementation of the double diploma program.

"It is a great honor for me, because the Memorandum of Cooperation between our educational institutions, which we are signing today, will contribute to the deepening of our ties, will open the door not only to fruitful academic exchanges, but also the rapprochement of generations of [new] students. I am sure that this will result in a great mutual benefit and help the long-term development and our joint work," Njavro said.

The Croatian leader is currently in Russia for a state visit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Grabar-Kitarovic met Putin at his state residence in Russian Black Sea resort Sochi on Wednesday. Leaders discussed bilateral ties as well as prospects of cooperation in the spheres of economy, culture and security in Europe and on the global scale. The Croatian president expressed hope that this meeting would mark the beginning of a new stage in Russian-Croatian relations.

During her visit, Grabar-Kitarovic has also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill.