L-R: M. Uhrík and M. Kotleba in parliament (source: TASR)
Later, the Rector of the UKF in Nitra, Ľubomír Zelenický, publicly apologised for the invitation. Last week, at the festive session of the Scientific Council of the UKF, with Scientific Councils of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Pedagogical Faculty included, Abrahim Habibull Khan of the Canadian Toronto University and Zdeněk Helus of the Charles University in Prague in memoriam received the title doctor honoris causa.
University students and employees protested and asked for an explanation and an apology for having devaluated the ceremony. The Rector first explained the presence of the invited MPs for the far right Kotleba-ĽSNS party, vice-chair Milan Uhrík, and Nitra boss of the party, Ján Kecskés, as being duly elected representatives of local and state bodies.
Later, he explained that the preparatory committee invited representatives of cultural, social and political life connected with Nitra; and he failed to recognise the improper selection of guests – thus making a wrong decision that does not correspond with the University’s philosophy, said Zelenický, as quoted by the TASR newswire. The two were not invited as representatives of an extremist party but rather as part of the list of MPs who were connected with the Nitra region. He added he does not know the members of ĽSNS and does not identify with their stances and opinions, TASR quoted him on March 7.
