President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, who is in Italy on a state visit, visited Bologna city together with his wife Nouneh Sarkissian, and was hosted at the University of Bologna where he was awarded the Sigillum Magnum Medal, the highest medal of this institution of higher education, the President's Office reports.
The Sigillum Magnum Medal is awarded to the influential people who have stood out in culture, politics, and science and academics.
Head Rector Francesco Ubertini of the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, welcomed the President of Armenia on behalf of the University, and Sarkissian thanked for the consideration.
Anna Shirinyan, Head of the Chair of Armenian Language and Literature at the University of Bologna, presented the history of this chair and the Armenian-Italian historical ties, and spoke about the significant Armenian trace in Italy.
After the ceremony of awarding the Sigillum Magnum Medal, President Sarkissian and his wife Nouneh Sarkissian visited the library of the University of Bologna and got familiarized with the unique samples of Armenian literary heritage being kept there.
