Near East University Commendation Order and Golden Key was presented to Cemil Çiçek, Member of Parliament from AKP, former Chairman of Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and former Minister of Justice, at the diner given in his honor at the Near East Mansion in Kyrenia.
According to a press statement released by the Press and Public Relations Directorate of Near East University, Dr. Suat. İ. Günsel, Founding Rector of Near East University, presented the Near East University Commendation Order and Golden Key to Cemil Çiçek, Member of Parliament from AKP, former Chairman of Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and former Minister of Justice.
Dr. Suat İ. Günsel: “Cemil Çiçek is a great statesman and much helped us in achieving to the point we are now, as the Near East Family, we are thankful to him”
Dr. Suat İ. Günsel, in his speech delivered before the presentation of Commendation Order and Golden Key, said “As a Cypriot and on behalf of Near East Family, I would like to express our gratitute to you. You are a great statesman to be patterned after. Whenever I attempt to define the concept of “great statesman” to my family, to the university youth, and even the books fail to define this concept properly, I do refer to your name to define it. Your considerations on Cyprus are more than considerations of Cypriots on Cyprus, and the level we have now achieved has been possible with your supports, is a great result for us. The level we have now reached in education and health can be much appreciated and is a source of proud for our Motherland, too. As the Günsel Family, we are very happy and proud to be united with Turkey in education and health fields. We always preferred to make progress in education and health sectors, and from now on, we will be continuing to make progress in determination in these sectors. Your contributions during this progress are much valuable and what you have done so far for us has a significant role in development of our character, and is always in our minds and hearts.”
Cemil Çiçek: “Our place in the world will be determined by the quality of education and the Near East University has an undisputed place in this issue”
Mr. Cemil Çiçek, the Former President of Grand National Assembly of Turkey, also delivering a speech at the ceremony, said “Regardless we are on an official work or not, the people living here are our brothers, we are the members of the same family. Thus, we have regarded the issues related to Cyprus from this respect. The point we have reached so far is important indeed. When we compare the yesterday with today, we have made a lot of progress, and from now on, we must reach to more important targets in cooperation with each other. The work you have been carrying out, teaching and learning, is the most sacred work of the world. I do believe this; neither oil, nor natural gas, gold, or silver will determine where our position and level will be in the world, but it is how good we can educate our people and how much we can improve the quality level in education. And in this respect, amongst those who will determine aboutour place in the world, will be Near East University with its great contributions to this process. I do sincerely congratulate you for your great efforts and achievements, and wish you all the success in future. Hopefully we will meet again in more beautiful days in future.”
Following the speeches, Dr. Suat İ. Günsel, Founding Rector of Near East University, presented the Commendation Order and Golden Key to Cemil Çiçek, Former President of Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Çiçek, in return, presented an embroidered coffe cup set which was produced at an old workshop lasting from the Ottoman period.