Demirel, Suleyman

(1920- )

   Trained as a hydraulic engineer, Demirel was a moderate right-wing prime minister of Turkey on several occasions from 1965 to 1993 and then president from 1993 to 2000 upon the death of Turgut Ozal. The military removed Demirel from leadership on two separate occasions (1971 and 1980), which probably made him very cautious about opposing it on the Kurdish issue.

   Upon becoming prime minister again in 1991, Demirel offered great hope that Turkey might try to solve its Kurdish problem successfully when he recognized what he called "the Kurdish reality." The precedence of the national security mentality over the concept of basic human rights, however, helped cause Demirel's modest proposals to fail. Although he was an accomplished politician and public speaker, Demirel became symbolic of Turkey's inability to change and reform. His attempt to remain in the presidency failed, and he was succeeded in 2000 by Ahmet Necdet Sezer.