University of Kyrenia and University of Kyrenia Foundation have cooperated to realise an exhibition due to the 101st Anniversary of the Çanakkale Victory (Dardanelles Naval Victory). It was revealed that the opening ceremony of the exhibition will be held on University of Kyrenia campus on 18th March, 2016.

According to the press info release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of University of Kyrenia, the exhibition will be held on University of Kyrenia campus and it will provide pieces to reveal “The Unknown Aspects of Çanakkale Naval War”. The curators of the exhibition are expressed to be Head of University of Kyrenia Maritime History Research Centre and Maritime Historian Ali Rıza İşipek and the exhibition is expected to bring significant pieces available for the visitors. These pieces include oil paintings, photographs, ship models, dioramas, propaganda posters, silk and linen handkerchiefs produced in memory of the war, various objects, mines of Nusret, replicates of torpedoes and schemas and maps in Ottoman.

Cemre Günsel Haskasap: “We are carrying the flag from the past, to the future!”

Founding Rector of University of Kyrenia Cemre Günsel Haskasap, expressed that Çanakkale Naval War was one of the turning points for both the history of the world and for the Turkish history. She added that there were a lot to learn from this war and that in this regard, the exhibition, which will reveal the unknown aspects of the word and will be held on the University of Kyrenia campus was highly significant to not only the Turkish Cypriots, but also to foreigners living on the island and to visitors on the island.

Cemre Günsel Haskasap further added that the University of Kyrenia aimed to value the past and what has been lived in the history since these could be mile stones to building the future. She stressed that the Dardanelles Naval Victory changed the direction of the war and therefore, they were honoured to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the war via an exhibition. She emphasised that by organising the exhibition, the University of Kyrenia was expressing their respect to the history and the gratitude towards the martyrs. Thus, she stressed that they were carrying the “flag” from the past to the future, valuing and respecting a great victory gained in the past. Cemre Günsel Haskasap particularly pointed out that this exhibition also represented the strong bond between our country and mainland Turkey.

Mutlu Soykurt :”The income from the exhibition will be used for education””

Head of University of Kyrenia Foundation Mutlu Soykurt, expressed that the fact that such a significant exhibition is being held is a great contribution for art and history, but by visiting the exhibition, the visitors will be able to make a contribution to a social responsibility project; since the income from the exhibition will be used for education via the Ministry of National Education of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The money is being planned to be used fro improving the laboratories in vocational high-schools. Soykurt further stressed that the University of Kyrenia was determined to be a part of similar events to make contribution to the society. He ended his words by stating that they proudly commemorated the Çanakkale victory and highly respected the martyrs.

Alirıza İşipek : “The exhibition sheds light on to the Çanakkale Naval war”.

The curator of the exhibition and Head ofUniversity of Kyrenia Maritime History Research Centre Ali Rıza İşipek expressed that the pieces to be exhibitied at the exhibition were unique and highly valuable as the exhibition sheds light to new generations. He added that oil paintings, photographs, ship models, dioramas, propaganda posters, silk and linen handkerchiefs produced in memory of the war, other various objects displaying the uniqueness of this particular victory. He further added that there were many studies conducted on the Çanakkale wars but that most of them were based on the war on land, rather than the sea. Moreover, Ali Rıza İşipek stressed that 50 war ships had taken part in the war and this aspect of the war needed further investigation. He pointed out that the exhibition titled as “Unknown Aspects of the University of Kyrenia Çanakkale Naval Wars” was the first of its kind and that it was rather significant as it opened a gateway to the past to help learn about the Turksih history.