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EMU Hosts a Conference by the President of the Turkish History Association Prof. Dr. Refik Turan

The Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) has organized a series of events on the 81th anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Republic of Turkey, the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The first of these activities was a conference by the Republic of Turkey, Turkish History Association President Prof. Dr. Refik Turan which took place at the Mustafa Afşin Ersoy Hall on Monday, the 4th of November 2019 at 14:30. Attendance was significantly high.

The conference titled "Atatürk, the National Pact, Turkey and Eastern Mediterranean" was attended by Security Forces Commander Altan Er, Commander Taner Uysal, Republic of Turkey’s Nicosia Embassy Famagusta Consul General Kasım Kaban, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam, Commander Kadir Bayraklı, EMU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Halit Tanju Besler, EMU Atatürk Research and Application Centre President Asst. Prof. Dr. Turgay Bülent Göktürk, faculty deans, department chairs, academic and administrative personnel and students. The conference commenced with a moment of silence and a recital of the national anthem. 

 “The Turkish Presence in Cyprus will Continue”

During the conference Turkish History Association President Prof. Dr. Refik Turan touched upon the First and Second World Wars stating that maps were drawn by imperialist countries that were victorious and that the concept of the new world order was planned centuries before. Prof. Dr. Turan emphasized that the undesired result of the First World War for imperialistic countries was the establishment of the Turkish Republic. Underlining the importance of the National Pact Prof. Dr. Turan drew attention to the fact that Cyprus was a part of the map in the original text of the pact. Including Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s words about Cyprus Prof. Dr. Turan provided examples of the conflicts between civilisation in the Mediterranean and Cyprus. Prof. Dr. Turan expressed that the Turkish presence in Cyprus will rightly continue. At the end of the conference, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam presented Prof. Dr. Turan a plaque of appreciation. The conference came to an end after a group photo was taken.