Türkiye Marks 13 Years Since the Death of President Turgut Özal

Türkiye held a commemoration on the 13th anniversary of the death of Turgut Özal, the country's eighth president. A ceremony took place at his mausoleum in the Topkapı district of Istanbul.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer marked the occasion with a written statement, describing Özal as a singular figure in statecraft and extending his sympathies to the Özal family.

Parliament Speaker Bülent Arınç also paid tribute, calling Özal a president who earned the affection of the Turkish public and praising his service to the nation and the state.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described Özal as one of the most significant statesmen of recent decades, crediting him with guiding Türkiye's growth and its integration into the wider world. Erdoğan said he remembers Özal "with deep respect and compassion."

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in April 2006, in its own words.