Former UK prime minister Lady Margaret Thatcher will be awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Lodz, central Poland on June 22, simultaneously in Lodz and London.

Doctors say that Thatcher’s medical condition prevents her from traveling to Lodz, so the university has decided to hold the ceremony via a teleconference. The ceremony will be transmitted to London and displayed on large screens.

The university’s Senate will meet for the special occasion, together with delegations from all Polish universities, foreign partner universities and political officials. In London, Margaret Thatcher will be accompanied by her close staff members and a delegation from Lodz.

Margaret Thatcher was said to be very glad when she heard about the award.

“Unfortunately, because of her current health condition, doctors would only accept the idea of a teleconference. Thereby, Margaret Thatcher can still take an active part in the ceremony and will give a speech,” said the promoter of Thatcher’s honorary doctorate, Prof. Zofia Wysokinska.

As she claims, the award expresses the university’s gratitude towards Thatcher, “The unquestionable political personality, who strongly supported economic and social transition in Poland.”

Together with Ronald Reagan, Margaret ‘Iron Lady’ Thatcher was seen in eastern Europe as one of the toughest and most determined opponents of the Soviet bloc during the 1980s and contributed to the fall of communism in those countries. (jg/pg)