Commemorative ceremony held in honor of Atatürk

Cyprus International University (CIU) organized a commemoration ceremony on the 86th anniversary of the passing of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding leader of the Republic of Türkiye. 

The ceremony began at 9:05 with a moment of silence followed by the Turkish National Anthem. The ceremony was held at Atatürk's bust where CIU Rector Prof. Dr. Halil Nadiri laid a wreath and Mustafa Öztürk and Azra Alay read Atatürk's Address to the Turkish Youth.

Within the scope of the Mustafa Kemal Atatürk commemoration ceremonies, an event titled “Atatürk and Buildings of the Republic Period: Heritage from Past to Present” was also held by the CIU Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture (FFADA).

At the event held at the CIU Çevik Uraz Center conference hall, FFADA Dean Prof. Dr. Cemil Atakara, FFADA Department of Interior Architecture Chair Prof. Dr. Sevinç Kurt, Faculty Members Prof. Dr. Nezih Ayıran, Prof. Dr. Yonca Hürol Al and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Devrim Yücel Besim delivered speeches.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Prof. Dr. Atakara evaluated the structures built in the early years of the Republic and made a presentation that included the ideals on which modern Turkey was built and the social, cultural and aesthetic values that these structures have passed on to the present day.

On the other hand, Prof. Dr. Ayıran talked about the understanding of architecture in the medium in which the Republic of Turkey was declared, and noted that Atatürk preferred modern architecture because he believed that the new Turkey should have a new architectural style

Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr. Hürol Al stated that she was a Cypriot born and raised in Ankara, and gave information about Ankara, the capital of the Republic, and the structures dating from that period in Ankara.

Prof. Dr. Kurt gave information about the 1st National Architecture Period between 1908-1932, and stated that this period started with the Committee of Union and Progress. Kurt also shared the information that the building that the Committee of Union and Progress built for their own use was later used as the 1st Assembly of the Republic.

To conclude, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Besim gave information about the structures that keep Atatürk’s memory alive, and that the construction of the Atatürk Cultural Center in Nicosia which started in 1981, on the 100th anniversary of Atatürk's birth, was very meaningful.