Former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel dead at 90June 17, 2015 - 10:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, who was twice toppled by the military during seven stints at the head of government, died early on Wednesday, June 17 according to a hospital official and Turkish media. He was 90, Reuters reports. Demirel, who served as prime minister seven times through the 1960s to the 1990s and was president from 1993 to 2000, died at the Guven Hospital in Ankara where he had been undergoing treatment for a respiratory tract infection, a hospital official told Reuters. Born to a farming family in the western Turkish province of Isparta in November 1924, Demirel trained as a civil engineer, according to an official government biography. He first came to power in general elections held five years after a 1960 coup, at the head of the Justice Party. Known as "Baba", or "Dad", to his fans in Turkey's farming heartland during his years in power, he served during a period of unstable coalitions in NATO-member Turkey that was brought to an end when the ruling AK Party founded by President Tayyip Erdogan came to power in 2002. Turkey now faces a return to coalition politics after the AKP failed to secure a majority government in June 7 elections, marking a major setback for a party that has transformed Turkey into one of the world's top-20 economies. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |