ISTANBUL - Coskun Kirca, a former Turkish foreign minister, ambassador and writer, died of respiratory and heart failure in Turkish metropolis of Istanbul yesterday (Thursday).
Kirca was born in Istanbul in 1927. Graduating from Galatasaray High School and Istanbul Faculty of Law, Kirca served as the Director of the International Security Department's Planning and Assistance Branch, Turkey's Permanent Representative to NATO, Turkey's Permanent Representative to UN and ambassador to several foreign countries. He survived an armed attack of three Armenian terrorists with several injuries on March 12th, 1985 when he was Turkey's Ambassador in Ottawa.
Besides politics, he also worked as a journalist and wrote for magazines as ''Forum, Akis, Kim and Yeni Forum'' and newspapers as ''Vatan, Yeni Gun, Yeni Vatan and Yeni Yuzyil.''
Coskun Kirca, who was a founder member of the parliament in 1960, was elected a parliamentarian both from the Republican People's Party (CHP) and True Path Party (DYP). He undertook important duties in preparation of all constitutions of Turkey adopted since 1961.
After being elected as a deputy from DYP in 1991, Kirca served as Turkish Foreign Minister of the 51st government formed by then DYP leader Tansu Ciller.
Kirca was married with three children. Coskun Kirca, who died at the age of 78, will be laid to rest in Istanbul tomorrow (Saturday).