İlker Başbuğ Gave a Conference in EMU

Within the framework of the 23^rd Spring Festival, Eastern Mediterranean University Atatürk Ideology Club hosted the 26^th Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces İlker Başbuğ. On the first day of the 23^rd Spring Festival, İlker Başbuğ gave a conference entitled “Current Problems of Turkey” at Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 May 2017.

After a moment of silence and the national anthem, Atatürk Application and Research Center Academic staff member Dr. Turgay Bülent Göktürk delivered the opening address of the event. Dr. Göktürk expressed his pleasure in hosting Başbuğ in EMU and read his biography.

After Dr. Göktürk, Başbuğ started his speech by commemorating the late leaders Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, TRNC Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş, Cyprus Turkish Community Leader Dr. Fazıl Küçük and all martyrs. Stating that during his former conference in EMU he talked about the Cyprus conflict, Başbuğ put forth that he wants to talk about Turkey’s current problems in this year’s conference.

Başbuğ stated that in  Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s 8^th notebook written in 1922, he wrote about the foundation phase of the Republic of Turkey and emphasized the importance of schools, education, economy, arts and construction for the strong standing of a government. According to Başbuğ, one of the most important problems of Turkey is fully related to education as compared to other countries, Turkey has not yet reached the desired level in education. In this respect, Başbuğ provided his recommendations for the betterment of the educational system in Turkey, with a special focus on teachers and pre-school education.

“Syria is a Giant Hive”

Another current problem of Turkey according to Başbuğ is the Syrian conflict as he described Syria as a giant hive which has chaos and turmoil. Describing the Syrian conflict as one of the most challenging and tragic international problem of the 21^st Century,  Başbuğ highlighted the fact that more than 50% of the Syrian population has been relocated and that Turkey is hosting the largest population of the refugees. Başbuğ also added that external forces are trying to establish a Kurdish formation in Northern Syria, which poses a great threat for Turkey.

“It is due to the Turkish Armed Forces that the 15th of July attempt was not successful”  

In his speech, Başbuğ also talked about the coup attempt on the 15^th of July. According to Başbuğ, it wasn’t a military coup attempt but another coup attempt initiated by an illegal  religious organization infiltrating into the Turkish Armed Forces. Başbuğ also stated that it is due to the efforts of the Turkish Armed Forces that the 15^th of July attempt was not successful. 

At the end of the conference which attracted great interest, İlker Başbuğ was presented a plaque of appreciation by EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam and EMU Ataturk Ideology Club Chair Çağatay Kır. After the conference, İlker Başbuğ signed the books he authored. Alongside with EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam, President of the Board of Trustees İlker Edip, Famagusta District Governor Dürdane Acı, academic and administrative staff members and students attended the conference.