The first day of the “2nd Lefke City Symposium”, which will continue until the 20th of December, in collaboration with the European University of Lefke (EUL) and the Municipality of Lefke, took place on Wednesday, December 18 at the Conference Hall of the Faculty of Law.

The symposium was attended by the Mayor of Lefke Aziz Kaya, the Chairman and members of the EUL Board of Trustees, the Rector of the EUL Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Yükselen, academic and administrative staff and many guests and students.

The chairman of Organisation Committee Teoman Oktay, the chairman of the symposium Prof. Dr. Orhan Gemikonaklı, the Rector of the EUL Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Yükselen and the Mayor of Lefke Aziz Kaya delivered speeches at the symposium which started after a moment of silence and National Anthem.

Oktay: The symposium will allow the creation of scientific solution strategies 

The chairman of Organisation Committee Teoman Oktay said that “The good results of the 1st Lefke City Symposium encouraged us and allowed us to think much more comprehensively at the 2nd Lefke City Symposium” and added that the Symposium was planned to be evaluated with 9 main titles and 11 sub-titles in order to obtain results in accordance with the theme and purpose.

Gemikonaklı: European University of Lefke is one of the most important institutions in the Lefke Region 

The chairman of the symposium Prof. Dr. Orhan Gemikonaklı gave information on the 1^st City Symposium and emphasized the fact that the European University of Lefke is one of the most important institutions in the Lefke region and emphasized that the topic of education should be further expanded and wished the symposium to be successful.

Yükselen: European University of Lefke undertakes an important economic, social and social mission for the Lefke Region 

The Rector of the EUL Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Yükselen said that “We feel the pride and happiness of hosting this symposium, which we think is very important for Lefke, this year as the University. It is our duty to carry Lefke, which is still one of the most beautiful regions of our country, to the best of tomorrows”. Underlining that the most important elements that play an important role on the development of Lefke are higher education, agriculture and tourism, Yükselen said that “The symposium aims to discuss all economic, geographical, cultural, historical values and environmental issues related to Lefke district in a scientific environment, to form urban policies and to create short, medium and long term scientific solution strategies appropriate to the results to be achieved by distinguished academicians. Each of these concepts will be examined in detail and important steps will be taken towards the goal of creating a city awareness that we will all embrace in Lefke”.

Yükselen went on to say that “For this purpose, the European University of Lefke, a State Foundation University, established in 1990, undertakes an important economic and social and social mission for the Lefke Region” and emphasized that with the rise and rapid growth of EUL in recent years, the Lefke region continues to develop simultaneously.

“It is obvious to all of you that the university provides a great economic added value to the region. The rapid development and growth of the university in recent years has attracted the attention of the investors to the Lefke region, increased the investment demands of private sector entrepreneurs and enabled the investments to be made in different areas in Lefke after many years” he said. Yükselen said that considering the rapid development and growth process that the university and the city have been living together in recent years, the future success of Lefke will be possible through a planned and environmentally sensitive urbanization process covering economic, social and cultural issues.

Pointing out that the symposium, organized in cooperation with the Municipality of Lefke, aims to present different perspectives for Lefke, to develop permanent solutions and to reach the city life environment desired by all residents, Yükselen said that “I would like to thank you all once again with my belief in the future of Lefke, and wish the results of the symposium to be successful and the results to be beneficial for our city, district and the whole country”.

Kaya: We are confident that, when the values to be created by the Symposium are added, much clearer information and recommendations from Lefke will emerge in all areas. 

The Mayor of Lefke Aziz Kaya said that “We are confident that when the values of the 2nd City Symposium, organized after the 1st Lefke City Symposium, are added, much more clear information and recommendations of Lefke will emerge in each field. These information and suggestions should be evaluated by all relevant institutions in order to make our district more livable. It will be a point that we will pay attention to addressing each important proposals in a systematic way that results in solution producers, sustaining advantages and eliminating disadvantages. Underlining the importance of sharing the success of each process obtained with the steps taken in accordance with the Cittaslow Lefke sprit, Kaya said that  “The practical central government, local government, university and non-governmental organizations that we live in demonstrate that a result is achieved in every field where cooperation can be achieved even at a minimum level”. Kaya also said that “On behalf of the Municipality of Lefke, I would like to thank the Rector of Lefke European University Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Yükselen, the members of the scientific committee, the organizing committee, all the participants who will present papers, and all the teachers and municipal authorities who contributed to our invitation and shared their valuable opinions with us”.

In the first session, “Urban Management, Policies and Local Governments” was discussed, and in the second session, “Urban Economy ”was examined and the first day of the symposium was completed.