Özal, Turgut (1927-1993)

Turkish Islamic right-wing politician, prime minister 1983-89, and president 1989-93. He was responsible for improving his country's relations with Greece, but his prime objective was to strengthen Turkey's alliance with the USA.

Özal worked for the World Bank 1971-79. In 1980 he was deputy to prime minister Bülent Ulusu under the military regime of Kenan Evren, and, when political pluralism returned in 1983, he founded the Islamic, right-of-centre Motherland Party (ANAP) and led it to victory in the elections of that year. In the 1987 general election he retained his majority and in November 1989 replaced Evren as Turkey's first civilian president for 30 years. He died in office and was succeeded by Süleiman Demirel.

Born in Malayta and educated at Istanbul Technical University, Özal entered government service and became undersecretary for state planning in 1967. As president, Özal's reputation was greater abroad than at home; he was largely responsible for Turkey's involvement in the 1991 Desert Storm campaign against Saddam Hussein. He campaigned vigorously for the rights of Bosnian Muslims and Azerbaijanis and, less overtly, for the Kurds on his country's remote southeast borders.