Experienced journalist Mete Çubukçu discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and their possible effects on Cyprus as part of the Conference Series organized by the Near East University Center of Excellence. The conference titled “Recent Developments in the Middle East and Cyprus”, which attracted great interest from the participants, examined the developments in the Middle East geography in the last year in particular and the effects of the reshaped regional dynamics on Cyprus. Mete Çubukçu shared his experiences and analyses gained in the region throughout his career with the audience and made important critics.

Having worked as a journalist in many crisis and war regions of the world such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Israel, Bosnia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chechnya, Algeria and Cyprus, Mete Çubukçu is a member of the Turkish Journalists Association. Çubukçu has been running the program called ‘Passport with Mete Çubukçu’ on NTV since 2011.

A ‘new paradigm’ has emerged in the Middle East!

In his conference at the Near East University, experienced journalist Mete Çubukçu referred to the developments in Gaza from October 7, 2023 to the present and the conflicts that then manifested themselves in Lebanon, and finally pointed to the new power equation that emerged in the Middle East with the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria. Emphasizing that October 7, 2023 created a “tectonic tremor and time accelerated” in the Middle East, Çubukçu stated that “Israel has increased its influence in the region in the last year and Iran is the biggest loser in the regional equation.”

Drawing attention to the emergence of a “new paradigm” in the Middle East, Çubukçu said that the Assad regime in Syria “could not read this change well” in the region. Çubukçu, who stated that the changes in Syria should be analyzed well, emphasized the increasing importance of Turkey and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean with the developments. Çubukçu also mentioned that the recent developments in the Middle East could be developments in favor of the TRNC.

A new reality has emerged in the region with the collapse of the Assad regime!

The opening speech of the conference was made by Prof. Dr. Nur Köprülü, a member of the Board of Directors of the Near East University Center of Excellence and also the Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. Stating that “the developments experienced in our nearby geography, the Middle East region, since October 2023, are a process related to the regional politics and distribution of power that have been reshaped in the post-Arab Spring period,” Prof. Dr. Köprülü finally stated that a new reality could be discussed in the region with the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria.

Stating that such events are of great importance in terms of rationally analyzing regional and international developments, Prof. Dr. Köprülü said that Near East University aims to increase the awareness of students and participants with such conferences. The conference, which attracted great interest from the participants, continued with a question and answer session. The conference ended with the presentation of a plaque of appreciation to Mete Çubukçu by Prof. Dr. Evren Hıncal, Head of the Center of Excellence at the Near East University.