GAU organized a commemoration ceremony for the late Founding President of the TRNC Rauf Raif Denktaş who was an Honorary Doctor of GAU.
GAU Academician Prof. Dr. Saadettin Yıldız gave the opening speech at the ceremony which was held in the GAU Cyprus-Girne Campus Millennium Complex Senate Hall. A documentary movie was also screened about the life of the late Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş.
The ceremony, which was open to the public, was attended by GAU Vice-Rector - Sadık Ülker, Chair of Health, Culture and Sports Office - Türkay Akpınar and numerous students and academicians.
Yıldız said, “Rauf Raif Denktaş is the same to Cyprus as Atatürk is to Turkey”
GAU Teaching Staff of the Education Faculty Prof. Dr. Saadettin Yıldız stated in his speech that “Rauf Raif Denktaş is the same to Cyprus as Atatürk is to Turkey. This comparison might be much elaborated for you but Turkey also fought for a struggle of existence under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Similarly, the leader of the struggle of existence in Cyprus was the late Rauf Raif Denktaş.”

GAU teaching staff - Latif Akça referred to one of the poems of Denktaş and emphasized the meaning behind the context of homeland and nation through Dektaş’s perspective. Akça reporting on the development of the journal entitled “Denktaşça” (Through the Perspective of Denktaş) also emphasized that the journal was formed with the collaboration of TRNC universities. Furthermore, Akça also stated that it is indeed saddening to see that the Mausoleum of Denktaş is not yet completed and also briefed students to inform others of the 90 years of Turkish Cypriot struggle in every place they visit following their graduation.
In his speech Investigative Author Harid Fedai referred to Cyprus history and the National Struggle days and the events.

Following the screening of the documentary about the late President Rauf Raif Denktaş, a photography exhibition was held focusing on Denktaş.