Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Business and Economics Faculty organized a panel on “The Effects of the Republic of Turkey's Foreign Policy in the Mediterranean on Regional Stability and Security” on Wednesday, 31 May 2023 at 10:00 at EMU Mustafa Afşin Ersoy Hall.
Personal Representative of the President Ergül Olgun, Famagusta Consul General İlyas Çetin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Affairs Director Aysan Mullahasan Atılgan, EMU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Hasan Demirel, Business and Economics Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mustafa Besim, Vice Deans, academic staff members and students attended the event.
The event commenced with the opening speeches. EMU Business and Economics Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mustafa Besim welcome the attendees and stated that the Business and Economics Faculty has made it a responsibility to organize events that affect the society and related to environmental issues, as well as academic activities. Expressing that the panel is to focus on important issues with panelist who are experts in the field, Prof. Dr. Besim thanked everyone who has contributed to the realization process of the panel.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Demirel stated that EMU always pays attention to be active enough in the fields of education, research and community service, which are the three main functions of universities. Stating that EMU has reached a very high level in terms of education and training activities in recent years, Prof. Dr. Demirel emphasized that in the field of research, the scientific studies carried out by EMU can be found in important platforms and are followed by citations made by different scientists from around the world. On the other hand, saying that EMU has always been active in serving the society and humankind, Prof. Dr. Demirel stated that the panel in question addresses a wide range of individuals. Stating that success in politics affects the existence, current situation and future of the country, Prof. Dr. Demirel underlined that science must be used to make this success possible. Prof. Dr. Demirel conveyed his thanks to those who contributed to the realization of the event and wished the panel to be productive.
Following the opening speeches, EMU Business and Economics Faculty Research Assistant Dilek Kalaycı provided information on topics to be discussed during the panel. Moderated by EMU Political Science and International Relations Department Head Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sözen, the panel consisted of various presentations; “Eastern Mediterranean Geopolitics and the Blue Homeland” by Blue Homeland theorist Retired Major-General Cem Gürdeniz, “Re-reading Cyprus within the Framework of Changing Approaches of the Old and New Actors” by EMU Political Science and International Relations Department academic staff member Prof. Dr. Kudret Özersay, “Legal Perspective on Marine Area Limitation Activities in the Eastern Mediterranean on the Axis of Cyprus” by Cyprus International University Law Faculty academic staff member Assist. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Erçakıca, “Turkey’s Mediterranean Policy: Regional Equation and Dynamics” by Near East University Vice Dean of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and Political Science Department Chair Prof. Dr. Nur Köprülü and lastly, “New Regional Order in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey’s Strategical Preferences” by Istanbul Aydın University, Arts and Sciences Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Hızır Tarık Oğuzlu.
A question-answer session was held at the end of the presentations. The panelists were presented souvenirs of EMU by Prof. Dr. Besim and Business and Economics Faculty Vice Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Berna Numan.