The United Nations Secretary General was distinguished with “Honoris Causa” title by the University of Lisbon.

The Secretary-General of the United States, António Guterres, was distinguished on Monday, 19^th February, with the degree Doctor Honoris Causa for the University of Lisbon, under the proposal of the Technical Superior Institute, where he was a student and professor.

In the ceremony, that took place in Aula Magna, at the Classic University of Lisbon’s Rectory, the President of the Portuguese Republic and the Portuguese prime-minister were present, as well as many ministers and members of the Portuguese diplomatic corps.

“I’ve always made what I could to fight for my values”. That’s how António Guterres defined his time during the national politics – and, now, in the United Nations.

The announcement of the attribution of this honorific title to the Portuguese former Prime-Minister was made in January by the Technical Superior Institute (IST) where the student António Guterres “had an exceptional academic path” and graduated in electrotechnical engineer in 1971.

Guterres was a Portuguese deputy for 17 years, since 1976, and was Prime-Minister of Portugal between 1996 and 2002. Later, in 2003, after leaving this position, he was a visiting lecturer in IST, before assuming for ten years, between 2005 and 2015, the position of High Commissary of the United States for the Refugees. Since the January 1^st  2017, he is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

By Observador and Portuguese Diaspora Council, March 2018