Yakın Doğu Enstitüsü - Near East Institute

🌍✨ On Saturday, the Near East Institute together with this year’s incredible student organising team successfully hosted another MUN conference!

Over the course of the NEUMUN2026, over 50 participants engaged in lively debates and discussions on international diplomacy, security, conflict resolution, and global challenges 👏

We were honoured to welcome keynote speakers including UNFICYP Representative Dr. Mustafa Öngün and TRNC Presidency Undersecretary Mr. Mehmet Dana, as well as a special video message from the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, Mr. Khassim Diagne.

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to making this year’s conference such a memorable and enriching experience 🙌

Final preparations underway for tomorrow’s conference. Delegate packs are coming together thanks to a great team effort — long day, good energy, and plenty of coffee involved. Looking forward to welcoming everyone tomorrow! 📚🌍

A dedicated student team is working to bring this year’s Model United Nations to life at the Institute.

As the countdown begins, preparations are entering their final stages — with energy, commitment, and a strong sense of purpose across the team.

We look forward to welcoming participants to an engaging and well-prepared simulation!

📍 3 days to go

Don’t miss this exciting webinar on Tuesday, co-organised by our colleagues at SEPAM and the NEU Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences!

🔗https:m.youtube.com/%C4%B1nDo%C4%9Fu%C3%9CniversitesiOfficial/streams?fbclid=IwVERDUARZfktleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7oh7wngoP0r2SYOjqrhc9PJ6N6pRxl2dtKva-XC_7tZ_ItJzW5aH4Zt4gjDw_aem_kfe7LL1gAI81hYqBaQ5Hbw

Our student-led team is in full preparation mode as the countdown to begins. We look forward to an engaging and successful conference!

🌍 Global Security Seminars – Second Installment

We are pleased to host Prof. Sami Nader (Levant Institute of Strategic Affairs, Lebanon) for a timely discussion on:

Israel’s War on Lebanon: What Next?

🗓️ Date: 21 April 2026 (Tuesday)
🕦 Time: 11:30am (Cyprus, GMT3)
🔗https://www.youtube.com/%C4%B1nDo%C4%9Fu%C3%9CniversitesiOfficial

Among others, Prof. Nader will shed light on the latest developments on the ground, what the ceasefire means, and what may come next for Lebanon and the wider region.

Join us for an insightful and grounded conversation on one of the most pressing issues in regional security.

📢 Event Brief 01/2026: The Material and Symbolic Power of Borders

This brief summarises the 25 March session with Dr. Merrill Hopper (University of Newcastle), which examined how borders shape belonging and difference beyond maps through Belfast’s peace walls, and further highlights the implications of these dynamics for Cyprus.

📄 Full brief: https://yde.neu.edu.tr/activities/event-briefs/?lang=en

Deadline approaching fast! Register now at neumun.neu.edu.tr!

Link to the full press release
https://neu.edu.tr/solutions-to-global-problems-from-diplomats-of-future-neumun-2026-returns-to-near-east-university-for-the-second-time/?lang=en

Solutions to Global Problems from Diplomats of Future: “NEUMUN 2026” Returns to Near East University for the Second Time! - Near East University NEUMUN 2026, the most comprehensive Model United Nations event at the university level in the TRNC, will bring together young people from different cultures on…

🌍✨ Spring Term Global Security Seminar Series – First Session!

We kicked off our Global Security Seminar Series for the spring term with Dr. Merrill Hopper from the University of Newcastle, diving into the material and symbolic power of borders. 🧱🌐

We discussed how borders don’t just exist on maps — they appear in walls, gates, road signs, and even flags, subtly shaping who belongs and who is “othered.” Using Belfast’s peace walls as a case study, Dr. Hopper showed how everyday objects carry political and affective meaning, influencing movement and territorial identity without always physically blocking access.

💭 Questions we explored:

How do everyday objects like signs or flags act as “walls” in shaping belonging?
Can the performance of a border be as important as its physical presence?

It was fascinating to see how the ordinary becomes politically charged and how difference is embedded into the landscape around us.