CIU students met with Australian High Commissioner Sam Beever

At the Seminar ‘Australia in Global Politics’, organized by the Cyprus International University (CIU) Cyprus and Mediterranean Studies Center (CYPMED), Australia's place within global and regional politics, as well as its domestic political functioning were discussed.

In his speech made during the opening of the event, CYPMED Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sertaç Sonan reminded that with the recently signed AUKUS, which is a three-party security agreement signed between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, Australia has come to the agenda, and underlined that this agreement is an important step in balancing China's increasing population in the region.

Also providing information in relation to the CV of guest Australian High commissioner Sam Beever in his opening speech, as well as his duties within the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Sonan advised that he believes that in terms of their academic development, that it is important for the students to discuss global current politics with experienced diplomats, and that they will continue with such activities.

At the seminar that was also attended by the CIU Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Abdullah Öztoprak, Australian High Commissioner Sam Beever gave information in relation to both Australia-Cyprus relations, and the AUKUS three-party security pact which includes Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Stating that in terms of national security, Australia’s geographical distance from its allies is a disadvantage, Sam Beever noted that when it comes to protecting its national interests, Australia has set five clear goals with relation to foreign policy.

Sam Beever in his speech, went on to list the aforementioned goals and stated that they were, “supporting an order based on an open society and an open economy; to take the necessary steps in order to increase Australia's sovereign capacity and resilience; cooperation against global challenges; to enable private enterprise-oriented economic development and, finally, to show that liberal democracies work well”.

Also advising that his country’s relations with the island of Cyprus are not new, High Commissioner Beever noted that apart from the guarantor states, Australia is one of the countries where Cypriots migrate to the most, and discussed the development of federalism and how the decision-making processes are carried out in Australia, which is governed by a federal system.

After his presentation, Beever answered questions posed by students and academic staff.

Following the event, CIU Rector Prof. Dr. Halil Nadiri presented the High Commissioner Beever with products made by the students from recycled materials, within the framework of the Sustainable Campus project.