Moldova’s first President Mircea Snegur Thursday was conferred the honorific tile of Doctor Honoris Causa of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM), Info-Prim Neo reports. “As a person of science and as head of state, I supported the Academy of Sciences. I gave by a piece of advice to the academicians and counseled them, especially when the Academy was harshly criticized. I remain near the academicians and thank them for everything they do,” Mircea Snegur said during the event. ASM president Gheorghe Duca said the decision to award the honorific title of Doctor Honoris Causa to the first head of state was taken unanimously in the April 21 meeting of the Academy’s Supreme Council for Science and Technological Development. “It is a great honor for us to award Mircea Snegur. This title is the highest award in the scientific community. It was Mircea Snegur’s fate to be the first President. He made our country known in Europe and stopped the war. That’s why we must thank him and be near him,” said Gheorghe Duca. The award ceremony was held during the solemn meeting of the Supreme Council for Science and Technological Development, which was dedicated to 20 years of the proclamation of Moldova’s independence.