Former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel died in hospital in Ankara on 90 years. He performed the duty head of the government in more mandates from 1965 to 1993 and was the ninth president of the country.
Turkish media reported that he ended up in the hospital because of sudden respiratory problems, but doctors failed to save him.
Demirel marked the tumultuous period of the Turkish state, and he was in politics for almost half a century, managing to return to the top of power after several coups and severe economic crises.
Demirel was a great friend of Macedonia.
During his tenure, Turkey became the second country, after Bulgaria, which recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name.
Back in December 1991, only three months after the declaration of independence of Macedonia, Prime Minister of Turkey Suleyman Demirel, in an interview with Erol Rizaov for “Nova Makedonija”, said that Turkey will be the first to recognize Macedonia’s independence.
This news was published in December 1991 in all Macedonian media, as well as through agencies around the world. Rizaov says he dictated it from Demirel’s living room.
However, Turkey was “late” with the recognition, i.e. it missed the opportunity to be the first because of Demirel’s attitude that he wants to notify Mitsotakis on this face to face.
