Farewell İsmail Kemal
İSMAİL Kemal, an international relations expert, academic and columnist of Cyprus Today’s sister newspaper, Kıbrıs, has died, aged 65.
Mr Kemal, who was a resident of South Nicosia, was being treated for stomach cancer and was undergoing treatment in the South. He passed away last Monday. Mr Kemal was laid to rest at his home town of Lefke on Thursday.
He was most famously known in the TRNC for his views on the Cyprus issue and the tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean — and gave many views to this newspaper.
Born in Lefkoşa in 1954, he graduated in the Philosophy faculty of Sofia University in 1989, in Bulgaria. He continued his studies at the University of London in International Relations and Sociology in 1990, before completing his Masters in International Relations at the University of Indianapolis. He then completed his PhD back at the University of Sofia.
He could speak fluent English, Turkish, Greek, Bulgarian and Russian. He was lastly an academic at the University of Cyprus in the Turkish and Middle Eastern Sciences Faculty.
He was also one of the founders of the Cyprus Students and Youth Federation (KÖGEF).
A statement from the University of Cyprus in South Nicosia, said he was a “dedicated teacher” and a “beloved colleague”, adding that he was “noticed by his humility, kindness and diligence”.
His funeral was attended by many past and present officials including former President Mehmet Ali Talat and the leader of the main opposition, Republican Turkish Party, Tufan Erhürman and other deputies.
Mr Kemal had told Cyprus Today that “tensions have been ongoing and increasing for some time” in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding: “Major international energy firms have become a shield for the Greek Cypriots. They are increasing their status with every agreement and are adding to their list of successes the energy cooperation agreements.
“There is not a lot the Turkish side can do against these energy giants. On the other hand, the Greek Cypriots are strengthening cooperation with countries where there is natural gas, with countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, and eastern Mediterranean countries.”