The opening ceremony of the University of Kyrenia Grand Library and the University of Kyrenia Culture, Congress and Exhibition Center was held with a magnificent ceremony with the participation of President Ersin Tatar , Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador in Nicosia, Ali Murat Başçeri, TRNC Security Forces Commander Zorlu Topaloğlu, ministers, members of parliament, political party representatives, President of the Higher Education Board of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (YÖDAK) , Kyrenia District Governor, Mayor of the Municipality of Kyrenia , University of Kyrenia Rector, Near East University Rector, vice-rectors, trustee delegation members, deans, institute directors, lecturers, artists and guests.

The ceremony which hosted by Founding Rector of Near East University, Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, University of Kyrenia Founding Rector Asst.Prof. Cemre Günsel Haskasap and the Founding Member of the Board of Trustees of Kyrenia University Enver Haskasap started with a minute of silence and the reading of the Turkish National Anthem.

At the ceremony, the Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Rector of Kyrenia University, Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University and Founding Member of the Board of Trustees of Kyrenia University Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel and the President of the TRNC Ersin Tatar delivered speeches.

President Ersin Tatar: “Thanks to the visionary and courageous investors who make investment here in this land, the Turkish Cypriot people are able to make themselves heard all over the world”
During his speech, which started by greeting the participants, TRNC President Ersin Tatar expressed his gratitude to those especially the Günsel Family, who contributed to the realization of this investment.

Stating that he celebrates this special day of all disabled people on the occasion of December 3, International Day of Disabled Persons, President Ersin Tatar noted that all institutions and organizations of the TRNC state use every means available to overcome obstacles and make the lives of disabled individuals easier and that this will continue in the future. Saying that they have started to overcome the obstacles in the Cyprus issue, Tatar stated that thanks to the visionary and courageous people who invest in these land, the loud voice of the Turkish Cypriot people has been heard all around the world.

Emphasizing the fact that the Turkish Cypriot people are demanding an agreement on the basis of sovereign equality, Tatar said “What we have achieved as a nation, our investments and our youth are our achievements. We no longer want to be hampered by isolation and restrictions,” he said.

Touching upon his meeting with UN Envoy Lute, President Tatar said that he had informed her that a new phase had been entered in Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean therefore, talks on a federal basis that have been continuing for 50 years did not make sense anymore.

President Ersin Tatar emphasized that the Grand Library of Kyrenia University besides 250 thousand books has also enabled access to 650 million electronic resources thanks to the electronic and digital world and the connection established with the Near East University Grand Library, thus becoming a part of the world.

President Tatar stated that it is very important to protect the brave members of the business world and to open the way. He ended his speech by thanking Suat Günsel and the Günsel Family once again for the permanent works they brought to the TRNC.

Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel: “For us, Republic means; country, homeland , working night and day and taking root in this land with the works we have created.”
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel started his speech by thanking those who attended the opening ceremony of the University of Kyrenia Grand Library and the Culture, Congress and Exhibition Center, which will make a very important contribution to the culture, art and education life of TRNC and Kyrenia region.

He stated that the University of Kyrenia, which was opened in 2013, was established not only with the qualified educational opportunities it will create, but with a mission that prioritizes the society, with the aim of being a living, dynamic university that touches the society, especially in the fields of health and culture and arts. While setting this goal, which seems as an ambitious target for a new university, İrfan Günsel underlined that the Günsel Family rely on the power of 42 years of experience they have accumulated with educational institutions, especially with the Near East University.

Underlying the progress of the University of Kyrenia in the past 7 years, Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel stated that while enriching the opportunities for the society and the people of the region to access qualified information with the Grand Library, Culture, Congress and Exhibition Center will bring, color and quality to social life with exhibitions, cultural organizations and events.

Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel continued his words by saying , “The University of Kyrenia Grand Library, which is equipped with the latest electronic and digital technology, where users can access 250 thousand books and 650 million electronic resources, will be at the service of the students and the people of the region 24 hours a day.”

Reminding that they recently opened the General Directorate of the Near East Bank, Near East Yeniboğaziçi College Campus, Halil Günsel Culture and Congress Center and the Walled City Museum, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel underlined that all these ceremonies were held on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “As Günsel Family and its institutions we are proud realize these works in order to show our support to protect the values of our country.”

At the end of his speech İrfan Günsel said that “ For us, Republic means country, homeland and working night and day and taking root in this land with the works we have created.”

Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu: We proceed on our way without sacrificing science and quality, and we are at an important position with the international scientific publications we produce “
University of Kyrenia Rector Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, during his speech, which started by greeting the participants, stated that they feel the power of the Günsel Family’s 42-year education experience in the investments they made, as in other investments.

Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu underlined that the Kyrenia University Grand Library and the University of Kyrenia Culture, Congress and Exhibition Center were built with great effort in 60 working days and three hundred and sixty thousand working hours. Expressing that the Grand Library has been put into service with more than a quarter million books and over half a billion digital resources, Salihoğlu said that they will serve the people of Kyrenia region and everyone within the framework of their social responsibility .

Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu continued his words by saying that” Today, University of Kyrenia has 69 programs, 13 faculties, 2 colleges, 6 vocational schools, 3 institutes, 2 research centers, distance education center and 60+ Refresher He reminded that he teaches with his university. Prof. Dr. Salihoğlu said, “We proceed our direction without sacrificing science and quality. We are also at an important position with the international scientific publications produce”.

Following the opening speeches, University of Kyrenia Grand Library and Culture, Congress and Exhibition Center were officially opened after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.