كلمة الرئيس نجيب ميقاتي في حفل تكريم مجلس أمناء الجامعة الأميركية في بيروت والحاصلين على الدكتوراه الفخرية
السبت، ٢٥ حزيران، ٢٠٠٥
Your Excellencies,
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Beirut,
President John Waterbury,
Distinguished members of the Board of Trustees,
Laureates of Honorary Doctorates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to welcome you in the Grand Serail, one of the symbols of reconstruction of Lebanon in the last decade.
My wife May and I, are delighted to have you among us tonight to honor some special people.
I would like to salute all the distinguished members of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Beirut and all the Laureates of Honorary Doctorates and thank them for having accepted this invitation and for being with us tonight.
Since its founding, AUB has set the standards in higher education throughout the Arab world.
Faithful to the liberal arts tradition in education, AUB has promoted the ideals of critical thinking and diversity.
Committed to intellectual and academic freedom, AUB has encouraged open debate and supported freedom of thought, speech, and expression.
Believing in all the virtues of tolerance, AUB, however has never compromised on excellence.
However, AUB, like all universities, had always to rely on the generosity of private donors, who, not only helped AUB expand, but more importantly this generosity represented the cornerstone in safeguarding its independence, hence, its mission. Allow me therefore to acknowledge the latest of such very generous donations which made it possible for AUB to continue fulfilling its role: The Olayan family donation and congratulate AUB on breaking ground with the construction of the Sulayman Olayan Business School.
A wise Lady once said: Paradoxally enough, 3 elements ensure stability: Change, reform and continuous learning.
The civil society of Lebanon has definitely decided to embark on the way of change; We are committed to reform the state of Lebanon; and we certainly rely on AUB to remain the beacon of continuous learning for the Arab World.

