Zeki Kuneralp
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zeki Kuneralp (1914 - 1998) was a Turkish diplomat. He was born in Istanbul
He was appointed Turkish ambassador to number countries in Europe.
After the assassination of his father his mother took the family into exile in Switzerland and he received a Swiss education, going all the way up to a Law doctorate in 1938.
Three terrorists, from ASALA opened fire on the car of Turkey's Madrid Ambassador Zeki Kuneralp, whose wife Necla Kuneralp and retired Ambassador Beşir Balcıoğlu lost their lives in this attack owned by the organisation that called itself the Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide. For the first time in this incident, a foreigner had lost his life that was the Zeki Kuneralp's driver Antonio Torres.
Zeki’s charm, intellectual distinction and affection for his friends remained as strong as ever. At the end of his life professional brilliance and cruel personal tragedy were mixed. He died in Istanbul of progressive multiple sclerosis.
[edit] Publications
- Just a Diplomat (Turkish) (1981) and (English) (1992)
- Ali Kemal (1869-1922): a portrait for the benefit of his English speaking progeny (1993).
