National History Museum will be the museum of Turkish Cypriots
Date Added: 16 March 2016, 14:52
Last Updated Date:18 November 2020, 09:45

A press conference regarding the National History Museum, which will be established to shed light on Cyprus Turkish History in the line with the co-decision of boards of trustees of Near East University and University of Kyrenia , was held to elicit publicity.

The boards of trustees of Near East University and University of Kyrenia co-decided to launch a comprehensive museum under the name of “National History Museum” in order to shed light on Cyprus Turkish History. A press conference was held to elicit publicity regarding the issue.

According to a press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of Near East University, detailed information regarding the National History Museum was shared with media at the press conference that held at Near East University Hospital Hall 101. It was underlined that the museum, which would be established with the support and encouragement of experienced statesman Cemil Çiçek and with the contributions of 35 academics involved in social and human sciences at Near East University and University of Kyrenia, would be a first of its kind and shed light on Cyprus Turkish History by providing comprehensive information covering 445 year period of Turkish Cypriots History. NEU Board of Trustees Chairman Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel, Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, National History Museum Scientific Committee Chairman and head of NEU Department of History Teaching, and Mr. Ali Rıza İşipek, Director of Maritime History Research Center and executive founding curator of National History Museum, delivered information to the media at the press conference.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel: “This museum will be established to convey the story, the past and the roots of Turkish Cypriots to the future”

After welcoming and extending his appreciations to the press members for their attendance, Near East University Board of Trustees Chairman Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel delivered information regarding the issue. “Near East University and University of Kyrenia co-decided to establish the National History Museum in order to shed light on our history. We have set off by the fact that all peoples and nations have a history. When we approach the issues to be covered within the frame of the museum, we encounter with a lot of issues spreading in a wide spectrum that certainly need to be exhibited. To this end, the museum will house the most comprehensive collection regarding the history of Turkish Cypriots. In this context, the museum will have a crucial role in providing the new generation as well as visitors from our motherland Turkey and other countries with information regarding our roots and fight of existence. This museum will be established to convey, the story, the past and the roots of Turkish Cypriots to the future. We aim to launch a museum where history and mystery of Turkish Cypriots come alive, where visitors and especially the youth are provided with a better understanding of the recent past and the great efforts exerted by our ancestors to survive and take roots on this island. Alongside noteworthy artifacts and documents and other respective collections, the most contemporary interactive systems will be housed by the museum to appeal the attraction of the visitors. In this vein, static exhibition as well as dynamic museum applications and digital technology will be used extensively in the National History Museum. All presentations in the museum, which will be situated on 2000 square meter area within the body of Near East University, will be in electronic environment in both Turkish and English languages. We are targeting to create a place where the young people as well as the visitors will be able to figure out our recent past and the struggle for existence. 35 valuable scientists from Near East University and University of Kyrenia take part in the National History Museum Committee. This museum will be a museum of all us. In this regard, we are open to all sort of contributions and invite those, who have any documents, materials and anything that reflect the history of Turkish Cypriots, to contribute and take place among the founding members of the museum. National History Museum, for which we have taken the first step, is a project that will be actualized together with all Turkish Cypriots” said he.

Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul: “This museum will be the museum of Turkish Cypriots and it will pose a place where our young people learn the past by experiencing it”

Voicing his excitement regarding the establishment of National History Museum, Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, Head of the Department of History Teaching and executive Chairman of the Scientific Committee of National History Museum, expressed his views concerning the issue. “The project is very thrilling as it excites me and Turkish Cypriots a lot. The museum will be established upon the co-decision taken by the boards of Trustees of Near East University and University of Kyrenia. This is very significant as the museum will be the first of its kind on the island. The museum will have a crucial task in shedding light on the past and history of Turkish Cypriots and providing information concerning our struggle to exist and to take roots on the island. We have determined 35 scientists, who are more valuable than each other, to contribute to the establishment of the museum. Although each of them has different tasks to do, all of them are voluntary to participate in such a significant project. In order to survive and walk confidently to the future, it is essential for Turkish Cypriots to know their past and history. The core collection of the museum will reflect the history of Turkish Cypriots ranging from 1570s to the present day. The National History Museum will also be a digital, dynamic and interactive facility where all the knowledge acquired by the project is thematically classified and made available room by room through presentations and animations. We aim to launch a museum that will exploit its potential as a learning place and play an active role with regard to lifelong learning with a human centered concept. In this context, our young people as well as visitors will have the opportunity to experience and figure out the past as if they were living in that period of history. We want to establish a museum where history and mystery of our people come alive. We want to establish such a museum that it will be one of the few examples in the world. Our aim is to create a museum which will be a learning place for our young people. The young generation needs to know their past and history well before setting out to explore the future. We want to take roots on our island so deeply that no one can remove us. To reflect Turkish Cypriots’ struggle for existence by using the most contemporary audio-visual devices will be the main theme of the museum. Within the structure of the museum, all tools, materials, documents, traditional clothes and social surroundings reflecting the characteristics of their time will be exhibited thematically and chronologically. I believe that we will accomplish very significant works as long as we feel the support of Turkish Cypriot behind us. In this regard, I would like to invite those, who have any documents and information regarding the issue, to share with us because all these documents and information will be shared with Turkish Cypriot community. This museum belongs to Turkish Cypriot community” said he.

Ali Rıza İşipek: “In cooperation with the Ministry of National Education, courses will be carried out within the body of National history Museum, which will function as a museum and archive”

Ali Rıza İşipek, Director of University of Kyrenia Maritime History Research Center and executive Founding Curator of National History Museum, began his remarks by extending his thanks on behalf of the University of Kyrenia. “To establish a museum is an extremely strenuous process. To reflect a great history to new generations, people and visitors, who knows nothing about it, is an arduous task. We have been carrying out studies regarding the project for almost two years. We have reached at a certain process. Academics from various disciplines are involved in the studies to determine the objectives, the context of the core collection and information and interactive systems to be used in the museum. The National History Museum, which will be a place where the history of Turkish Cypriots comes alive, will be consisted of three chronological sections; Ottoman Period starting with the Conquest of Cyprus, National Struggle Period till Cyprus Peace Operation, and the process covering the period from TRNC’s establishment till today. To set up an archiving system by conducting interviews with mujahideen that participated in Cyprus Peace Operation is another important aspect that we will attach importance on it. The materials to be collected at the museum will also function as an archive. In the line with modern museology concept, it is essential for museums to possess a core collection. Our core collection will be enhanced by time. By conducting activities in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, we will host many students coming from schools ranging from primary schools to universities. The museum will provide the students with an interactive environment where they can learn a curricular course by hearing, visualizing, feeling and experiencing it. It won’t be a standard museum. It will be a living museum, which will continuously enhance its core collection and provide all information regarding the history of Turkish Cypriots through presentations and animations in an interactive, digital and audio-visual environment” said he.