Press Release
The President of Turkey, Suleyman Demirel, was this morning elected the President of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (HABITAT II) taking place in Istanbul from 3 to 14 June.
Elected the ninth President of Turkey on 16 May 1993, Mr. Demirel's political career started in 1964 with his election to the General Executive Board of the Justice Party (JP). He was later elected party chairman at the Second JP Grand Convention on 28 November 1964. He facilitated the formation of a coalition government that ruled Turkey between February and October 1965. He served as Deputy Prime Minister, with Suat Hayri Urguplu as Prime Minister.
Under the leadership of Mr. Demirel, the JP won 53 per cent of the vote in the general elections of 10 October 1965 and formed a majority government. As a deputy from Isparta Province, Mr. Demirel became Turkey's thirteenth Prime Minister, a position he has held on several occasions. In the next general elections of 10 October 1969, the JP was once again the sole winner by a landslide. Subsequently, Mr. Demirel formed Turkey's fourteenth government.
Mr. Demirel resigned twice from office due to military intervention, in 1971 and 1980. Following the military coup of 12 September 1980, he was banned from involvement in active politics.
Returned to active politics by the referendum of 6 September 1987, Mr. Demirel was elected chairman of the True Path Party (TPP) at its extraordinary convention on 24 September 1987. He was also re- elected a representative from Isparta in the 29 November 1987 general elections. Mr. Demirel again became Turkey's Prime Minister in a coalition government formed after the elections of 20 October 1991. His coalition partners were the Social Democrat People's Party.
Born on 1 November 1924 in Islamkoy, Isparta Province, Mr. Demirel graduated from the Engineering Faculty of Istanbul Technical University in 1949. In the same year, he joined Turkey's Electrical Studies and Research Administration. He later went for post-graduate studies in irrigation, electrical technologies and dam construction in the United States in 1949 to 1950 and again in 1954 to 1955.
- 2 - Press Release HAB/IST/4 3 June 1996
Mr. Demirel was appointed Director-General of State Hydraulic Works in 1955, a capacity in which he supervised the construction of many dams, power plants and irrigation facilities. Upon completing his military service in 1962, he worked as a freelance engineer and adviser until 1964.
The President speaks English and has written a number of books, articles and essays on politics.
Mr. Demirel is married.
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