It was impressive to see that this University as well as Near East University had vast premises with modern equipments. Most of the staff had studied in the western universities, mainly in the United States.

When making comparisons with the other universities with respect to their logistics, a chief of one of the Departments at Near East University, used to say, not without pride, this or that equipment was far more advanced than in the universities of Turkey. The Director of International Issues, Asst. Prof. Dr. Tayseer Alshanableh who, though the temperature was over 45 Degree Celsius that day (July 19), was impatient to show us as many faculties and other facilities of Near East University (located in Lefkosa), as possible. This University had selected student population from 55 different countries, including students from Albania.

Moreover, he told me that he would visit Tirana after some weeks, where they had a representative in charge of promoting their university. Mr. Alshanableh was aware of the point made by me that there is a “super-production” of universities in Tirana. “We do our job. The best wins,” Alshanableh said.

This narration has been a humble endeavor to present a modest picture of what I heard and saw during those six days, programmed carefully by the Turkish Cypriot authorities, and undoubtedly, the high temperatures over 40 degree Celsius were an impediment for most of the group of journalists to see the other important side – the ordinary daily life of the common people, a glimpse of which we could, however, taste in passing in the port city of Girne.

Genci Miloja
Albania Daily News