With a ceremony held at CIU, the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was commemorated

A ceremony was held at the Cyprus International University (CIU), for the founder of the Republic of Turkey (TR) Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who was commemorated with respect and longing on the 83rd anniversary of his death.

The ceremony, which was organized within the scope of the COVID-19 precautions at the CIU Çevik Uraz Center Conference Hall, began at 09.05 with a moment of silence.

Following the singing of the Turkish National Anthem, poems "Mustafa Kemal the Thinker" and "Atatürk with Children Every Season" were read by Turkish Language Teaching students.

CIU Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, International Relations Department Chair Assist. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Direkli, in his Atatürk themed speech, shared Mustafa Kemal's thoughts on foreign policy, war, and peace.

Drawing attention to the fact that when it came to foreign relations, Atatürk was a leader who based it on peace, diplomacy, and alliances, valuing ​​diplomatic solutions rather than violence, Direkli advised that for Atatürk, war was a last resort.

Explaining that TR became a member of the League of Nations in 1932, Direkli went on to say, “When it came to 1934, with the efforts of Turkey, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics joined the League. These are examples of success in foreign policy".

Reminding that as one of the members of the international community, TR chose the path in protecting both national interests and peace, Direkli informed that Atatürk played an important role at this point.

Providing information in relation to Atatürk’s foreign relations policy, Direkli continued, “Listed as his main principles are; protection of the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, for foreign policy to be established upon solid foundations, for international developments to be followed closely, and problem-solving via diplomacy”.