President Ersin Tatar presided over the Council of Ministers on Tuesday during which a wide range of domestic issues were discussed.

Tatar said that discussions during the cabinet meeting had focused on a wide array of issues ranging from recent incidents concerning a rise in criminal activity, fake diplomas and the ongoing fraud scandal in the Turkish Cypriot higher education sector, the financial crisis at the Eastern Mediterranean University and problems experienced by citrus growers.

Tatar said that there was full agreement with the government to address the outstanding issues as soon as possible.

He said that the government was working closely with the higher education watchdog YOKDAK (Higher Education, Planning, Audit, Accreditation, Coordination Board) to address the issue of corruption in the higher education sector.

“Higher education is the apple of our eye. This sector is a major contributor to the country’s economy and promotion of the TRNC. I expressed my sensitivity on the subject and advised the government to update any regulations or legislation if needed to ensure that such problems are not repeated in the past. The government is in complete agreement with me on the matter,” he said.

Tatar said that the Ministry of National Education and YÖDAK will be preparing a report to present to the government.

The president expressed that the latest incident of fake diplomas and fraud could not be attributed to the entire higher education sector but was more the result of individuals acting on their accord.

“I am convinced that YÖDAK will take all necessary precautions to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future,” he said.

Regarding the financial situation at the Eastern Mediterranean University, the president said that the prime minister had briefed him on a meeting he had held with the university’s Board of Directors.

“I am pleased to see that they have come up with a formula for the university from the financial quagmire it’s currently in,” he added.

Tatar concluded by saying that he would continue to exchange views with the government regularly as this was his duty.