Prof. Hans Ankum is The New Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE

At an official ceremony in the Large Conference Hall of the university the Rector Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev awarded the Honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE to Hans Ankum, Professor in Roman Law at the University of Amsterdam. The high distinction was conferred on him “for his contribution to the advancement of the Roman law science and to the establishment of the first Bulgarian University Center for Roman Law Studies”. At the event attended the Academic Managing Body of the university, lecturers, students and guests.

During the official ceremony in the Large Conference Hall

The Rector Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev awarded to Prof. Hans Ankum the academic regalia for Doctor Honoris Causa – a roll in the Old-Bulgarian and Latin language and the Honorary sign of UNWE (in the picture below).

The photo of Prof. Ankum was set on the wall in the Academic Hall of the university next to the pictures of all persons honoured with Doctor Honororis Cause of UNWE (in the picture below).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Konstantin Tanev, Director of the Inter-University Center for Roman Law Studies and Romanistic Tradition presented the biography of Prof. Ankum. The new Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE is Emeritus Professor in Roman Law and Legal History at the University of Amsterdam, Ordinary Member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Doctor Honoris Causa of universities in France, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Spain as well as a holder of the Ridder Nederlandse - the highest Dutch decoration conferred on the proposal of the Minister of Justice. He has been Director of the Institute of the Faculty of Law and Vice Rector of the University of Amsterdam, etc.

Assoc. Prof. Tanev (on the right) is presenting the biography of Prof. Ankum. On the left: Prof. Statty Stattev and the priest Nikolay from the church Canopy of Holy Virgin

The Honorary title is a responsibility and according to the tradition its holders have to deliver an academic speech at the university every year, pointed out the Rector. He outlined that conferring the highest distinction of the university on Prof. Hans Ankum had been well combined with the event devoted to Prof. Boris Landzhev – Scientific Conference on the Supremacy of Law - Prerequisite to Business Development and Economic Growth – Scientific Researches in Memory of Prof. Dr. Boris Landzhev.

Prof. Stattev (on the right) and Prof. Ankum

Prof. Ankum delivered his first academic speech as Doctor Honoris Causa of UNWE. The Dutch scientist expressed his thankfulness to the UNWE Managing Body for the high distinction and pointed out that it had also been a tribute to the Roman law science to which he had devoted more than 60 years of his life.

The lecturer differentiated the meaning of the term “Roman law”, the researches in the field, various studies as well as the statements of legal authors and historians. Prof. Ankum outlined: “The common study of Roman law gives a big enrichment to our lives: it creates a cordial amicitia between Romanists all over the world who would never have known each other without Roman law. The work of a Romanist is not only attractive, it is also important for the future or active actual lawyer. The examination of the way of argumentation by the classical lawyers is formative for the student and instructive for him who exercises a legal profession even in a common law system. For the lawyer of a civil law system of which a big part of private law is based on Roman law knowledge of these Roman bases is valuable. This holds true for ownership, real securities, contractual and extra contractual obligations and testamentary succession. The knowledge of Roman law is helpful for the comprehension of modern law. It gives access to the systems of private law of continental Europe, South Africa, South America, Quebec and Louisiana. It gives a tool to the worker in the field of comparative law and a "lingua franca" facilitating contacts between modern lawyers.”

During the ceremony

Prof. Ankum also pointed out that “as long as a University wants to be more than a professional school, viz. a centre of culture and as long as a Law Faculty wants to be more than an institute preparing for legal practice, viz. a centre of legal culture, there will be in these institutions a place for Roman law and for jurists teaching and studying this antique legal system”. In conclusion he said: “The University that awarded an honorary doctorate to a scholar who dedicated his whole life to the study of Roman law gives an admirable example in the field for which I am deeply grateful.”

The Rector is presenting the Golden Book of the university

In the Golden Book of UNWE Prof. Ankum wrote: “Deeply grateful by the doctorate honoris causa which the prestigious UNWE awards to me. I express my cordial friendship to this University and especially to its Law Faculty and with the colleagues of this Faculty. It is also an honour for the study of Roman law for which happily as well as in Bulgaria as in the Netherlands there exists much interest.”

Prof. Ankum wrote his epistle in the Golden Book of UNWE

After the official ceremony the National Conference organized under the patronage of the Rector of the university Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev on the Supremacy of Law - Prerequisite to Business Development and Economic Growth – Scientific Researches in Memory of Prof. Dr. Boris Landzhev was opened and began its work.