Czech Republic's President Vaclav Klaus (L) welcomes Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni at Prague Castle in Prague March 18, 2010.
REUTERS/David W Cerny (CZECH REPUBLIC - Tags: POLITICS ROYALS)
22 March 2010
Prague, March 19 (CTK) - King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni Friday received an honorary doctorate at the Academy of Performing Arts (AMU) in Prague from which he graduated in the 1970s, majoring in dancing.
The king thanked to all his former teachers, especially to the late Olga Paskova.
He said he considers the doctorate not only a personal award but a symbol of long-lasting friendly relations between the Czech Republic and Cambodia.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Jan Fischer and his wife, former president Vaclav Havel and Livia Klausova, wife of President Klaus.
AMU professor Bozena Brodska recalled that Sihamoni is known as a "dancing king" in Europe, same as Louis XIV of France in the 17th century.
Brodska said Norodom Sihamoni was sent to Prague as he was highly interested in the development of the Cambodian royal ballet company. He was aged nine then, she said.
Sihamoni lived in then Czechoslovakia in 1962-1975. He called Prague his second home during his previous visit in 2006.
The AMU honorary doctorate winners include Havel, Czech film directors Milos Forman and Jan Svankmajer, and Russian director Oleg Tabakov.
Sihamoni, 56, who speaks Czech, has been on a week-long private visit to the Czech Republic since Sunday.
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