Osman Orek

Osman Nuri Orek was born in Nicosia on 26 Dec 1925. He was the first Minister of Defence in the Republic of Cyprus in 1960, one of three Turkish Cypriots serving in the cabinet with Niyazi Manyera and Mustafa Fazil Plumer. He was involved with the UN Peacekeeping Force at the time of the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus in July 1974, and was one of the planners of the Green Line. When the Autonomous Turkish Cypriot Administration was set up he was Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was the first Speaker of the Assembly of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus between 1976 and 1978. He was then appointed as the State’s second Prime Minister in 1978, succeeding Denktash. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was unilaterally declared on 15 November 1983 at which point Osman Orek retired from active politics. He died in London on 24 March 1999 and was buried in the State Cemetery in Nicosia.

Cyprus | Cyprus Individuals