Zeki Kuneralp
Encyclopedia
Zeki Kuneralp was a Turkish
diplomat
, who rose to the highest offices in his country's foreign ministry despite having been brought up as an exile in Switzerland
, after the murder of his father, a pro-British journalist and politician, during the Turkish War of Independence
. Kuneralp was also an active writer whose books remain important sources for twentieth century Turkish history.
, Ottoman Empire
in October 1914, Kuneralp was the second son of Ali Kemal Bey
, the liberal Anglophile Turkish journalist, writer, and politician, by his second wife, Sabiha Hanim. After the lynching of his father in November 1922 by a nationalist mob, his mother took the family into exile in Switzerland, where he received a Swiss education, going all the way up to a Law doctorate in 1938.
Special permission for Kuneralp to enter the Turkish foreign ministry was granted by President İsmet İnönü
. After entering the ministry in 1942, Kuneralp went on to become one of the most brilliant diplomats of his generation, eventually serving two terms as Secretary-General (Permanent Undersecretary) in the 1960s. Earlier in his career, he was posted to Bucharest
, Prague
, Paris
, and Turkey's NATO Delegation. A strong believer in Turkish-Greek friendship, Kuneralp worked hard but unsuccessfully to repair the damage done to Turkish-Greek relations by the rift over Cyprus
between 1954 and 1964.
He served as ambassador to London
from 1964 to 1966 and again from 1969 to 1972. During the later stages of his diplomat career, Kuneralp was afflicted by progressive multiple sclerosis
, which left him unable to walk without support.
In 1978, while Kuneralp was serving as ambassador in Madrid
, three gunmen opened fire on his car. The ambassador's wife, Necla Kuneralp, and her brother, retired Ambassador Beşir Balcıoğlu, lost their lives in the attack. Responsibility was claimed by a militant Armenian group, variously named as ASALA (Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia
) or the Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide
. The attackers opened fire on Balcioglu, who was using crutches, apparently supposing him to be Kuneralp because of this. The attack was one of a series of assassinations of Turkish diplomats and officials during the 1970s and 1980s. It was the first in the series, in which a non-Turk (Zeki Kuneralp's Spanish driver, Antonio Torres) also lost their life.
Despite this tragedy, Zeki’s charm, intellectual distinction and energy, as well as his affection for his friends remained as strong as ever. He had a lively and surprisingly unorthodox and original mind and during his retirement wrote several books, including an edited version of his father's autobiography and an autobiography of his own, as well as works on recent aspects of Turkish diplomatic history. His autobiography was translated into English and appeared under the title "Just a Diplomat". He died in Istanbul of progressive multiple sclerosis
.
An article, "Ambassador Extraordinary", describing his life and personality, was published after his death in Number 16 of the magazine Cornucopia
, 1998, as well as a short volume of memoirs by his British and Turkish friends giving details of his career. This was published in 1998 by the Isis Press in Istanbul as Zeki Kuneralp 1914–1998: A Tribute by Friends and Family. One of his British friends, Sir Bernard Burrows, a former ambassador to Ankara, said that Kuneralp could best be described as a saint, adding that this was an unusual quality in a diplomat. Kuneralp always retained his affection for Switzerland, the country of his upbringing, and spoke the Swiss dialect of German fluently, sometimes startling groups of Swiss visitors.
The former British Conservative Member of Parliament and current Mayor of London
and journalist Boris Johnson
is Kuneralp's great nephew.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, who rose to the highest offices in his country's foreign ministry despite having been brought up as an exile in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, after the murder of his father, a pro-British journalist and politician, during the Turkish War of Independence
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
. Kuneralp was also an active writer whose books remain important sources for twentieth century Turkish history.
Biography
Born in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in October 1914, Kuneralp was the second son of Ali Kemal Bey
Ali Kemal Bey
Ali Kemal Bey was a liberal Ottoman journalist, newspaper editor and poet who was briefly Minister of the Interior in the government of Damat Ferid Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire. He was murdered during the Turkish War of Independence...
, the liberal Anglophile Turkish journalist, writer, and politician, by his second wife, Sabiha Hanim. After the lynching of his father in November 1922 by a nationalist mob, his mother took the family into exile in Switzerland, where he received a Swiss education, going all the way up to a Law doctorate in 1938.
Special permission for Kuneralp to enter the Turkish foreign ministry was granted by President İsmet İnönü
Ismet Inönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was a Turkish Army General, Prime Minister and the second President of Turkey. In 1938, the Republican People's Party gave him the title of "Milli Şef" .-Family and early life:...
. After entering the ministry in 1942, Kuneralp went on to become one of the most brilliant diplomats of his generation, eventually serving two terms as Secretary-General (Permanent Undersecretary) in the 1960s. Earlier in his career, he was posted to Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and Turkey's NATO Delegation. A strong believer in Turkish-Greek friendship, Kuneralp worked hard but unsuccessfully to repair the damage done to Turkish-Greek relations by the rift over Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
between 1954 and 1964.
He served as ambassador to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1964 to 1966 and again from 1969 to 1972. During the later stages of his diplomat career, Kuneralp was afflicted by progressive multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, which left him unable to walk without support.
In 1978, while Kuneralp was serving as ambassador in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, three gunmen opened fire on his car. The ambassador's wife, Necla Kuneralp, and her brother, retired Ambassador Beşir Balcıoğlu, lost their lives in the attack. Responsibility was claimed by a militant Armenian group, variously named as ASALA (Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia
Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia
The Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia or ASALA was an Armenian nationalist militant organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986. The group also operated under other names such as The Orly Group and the 3 October Organization...
) or the Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide
Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide
Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide was a secret military organization that operated in various western nations from 1975 to 1987...
. The attackers opened fire on Balcioglu, who was using crutches, apparently supposing him to be Kuneralp because of this. The attack was one of a series of assassinations of Turkish diplomats and officials during the 1970s and 1980s. It was the first in the series, in which a non-Turk (Zeki Kuneralp's Spanish driver, Antonio Torres) also lost their life.
Despite this tragedy, Zeki’s charm, intellectual distinction and energy, as well as his affection for his friends remained as strong as ever. He had a lively and surprisingly unorthodox and original mind and during his retirement wrote several books, including an edited version of his father's autobiography and an autobiography of his own, as well as works on recent aspects of Turkish diplomatic history. His autobiography was translated into English and appeared under the title "Just a Diplomat". He died in Istanbul of progressive multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
.
An article, "Ambassador Extraordinary", describing his life and personality, was published after his death in Number 16 of the magazine Cornucopia
Cornucopia (magazine)
Cornucopia is a magazine about Turkish culture, art and history, published jointly in the United Kingdom and Turkey.-Content:Cornucopia was founded by John Scott and Berrin Torolsan in 1992. It is an English Language magazine that concerns Turkish culture...
, 1998, as well as a short volume of memoirs by his British and Turkish friends giving details of his career. This was published in 1998 by the Isis Press in Istanbul as Zeki Kuneralp 1914–1998: A Tribute by Friends and Family. One of his British friends, Sir Bernard Burrows, a former ambassador to Ankara, said that Kuneralp could best be described as a saint, adding that this was an unusual quality in a diplomat. Kuneralp always retained his affection for Switzerland, the country of his upbringing, and spoke the Swiss dialect of German fluently, sometimes startling groups of Swiss visitors.
The former British Conservative Member of Parliament and current Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
and journalist Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
is Kuneralp's great nephew.
See also
- List of Turkish diplomats
- List of assassinated people from Turkey
- List of ASALA attacks