The “5th City and Environment Studies” congress has commenced. The congress is being held with Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Business and Economics Faculty, Business Department, Ankara University and Ernst Reuter Housing - City Planning Application and Research Center collaboration. The meeting which will be attended by mayors and local administration representatives of both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and other countries commenced with an opening ceremony on the 16th of April, 2018 at 09:30 in Arkın Palm Beach Hotel.
The event which commenced after a moment of silence, the national anthem and opening speeches is being carried out with the contributions of the Development and Economic Collaboration Office operating under the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Nicosia and the Municipality of Famagusta.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting with the agenda of “Local Politics, Local Services in the Globalizing World” EMU Business and Economics Faculty Vice Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz İşçioğlu welcomed esteemed scholars from the TRNC and Turkey. Assoc. Prof. Dr. İşçioğlu noted that the two day, five session long event will touch upon topics such as local administration in Turkey and the world, the scale problem in service, service policies aimed towards women and children, effectiveness of service, clever cities and local planning services.
EMU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Özkaramanlı stated that universities have a duty to serve local communities and humanity indicating that EMU has been carrying out this duty since it was founded as a state university. Touching upon the scientific meetings organized and going to be organized by EMU this year, Prof. Dr. Özkaramanlı indicated that EMU’s contributions to the community and humanity will continue. Stating that over the last few years there have been both good and bad local administrations in the TRNC, Prof. Dr. Özkaramanlı expressed his belief that the meeting will contribute to local administrations.
It Is Very Important To Discuss Local Administration
Famagusta Mayor İsmail Arter stated that they gather at another scientific meeting organized by Famagusta’s pride EMU, emphasizing that it is very important to discuss local administration in a globalizing world. Stating that work on local administration has been carried out for many years Arter indicated that the problem lies in the execution of outcomes. Arter also provided information about the state of the Famagusta Municipality.
There Are Things That Must Be Done To Ensure The Healthy Growth Of Cities
Former TRNC Parliamentary Speaker Dr. Sibel Siber described workshops as scientific gatherings where prescriptions are written with the aim of solving existing problems whilst highlighting the importance of complying with the outcomes of workshops. Stating that a child needs many things in order to develop in a healthy manner, Dr. Siber stated that this is the same for cities and towns. Noting that there are things that must be done to ensure the healthy growth and development of cities Dr. Siber stated that healthy individuals can be found in healthy cities. Dr. Siber concluded by wishing all participants a fruitful meeting.
Following the opening speech, Ankara University academic staff member and Congress Honorary President Prof. Dr. Ruşen Keleş delivered a presentation. During the presentation Prof. Dr. Keleş provided information about the meeting, emphasizing that local administration will be tackled and problem solutions seeked. Prof. Dr. Keleş indicated that ideas will be exchanged regarding the urbanization of the TRNC. A music recital of EMU Education Faculty, Fine Arts Education Department students Deniz Amcazade and Dilara Gürtaş took place after Prof. Dr. Keleş’s presentation.
During the first session of the congress moderated by Ankara University academic staff member Prof. Dr. Cevat Geray, Ankara University academic staff member and Congress President Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Mengi and EMU Business and Economics Faculty vice Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz İşçioğlu delivered the presentation entitled “Provisions of Autonomy in TRNC and European Local Administrations”, the congress then continued with the following presentations; “Urbanity Awareness and Local Administrations” by Girne American University academic staff member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nazım Beratlı , “Globalization, Local Administrations and Citizen Rights” by Prof. Dr. Kıvılcım Akkoyunlu Ertan from the Turkey and Middle East Public Administration Institute and lastly, “Globalization and Future of the Local Administrations” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Birol Ertan. The congress will continue with the sessions to be organized on the 17th of April, 2018.