Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey and President of STRATIM. Ambassador (R) Yaşar Yakış joined the diplomatic service in 1962. He served in various capacities in the Turkish Consulate General in Antwerp (Belgium), in the Turkish Embassy in Lagos (Nigeria), in NATO Defence College in Rome, in the Turkish Embassy in Damascus. Yakış became Ambassador of Turkey to Riyadh in 1988, Deputy Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992, Ambassador to Cairo in 1995, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the UN Office in Vienna in 1988. In 2000-2001, he taught “Turkey’s Foreign Policy” in the Bilkent University and Hacettepe University in Ankara and “Water Diplomacy” in Hacettepe University.

In 2001, Yakış became one of the founding members of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Deputy Chairman of the party in charge of international relations. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Düzce and served in the Parliament until June 2011. He became Minister of Foreign Affairs of the 58th Turkish Government (2002-2003). He participated in the European Convention to draft the European Constitution. Between 2003 and 2011, he served as the Chairman of the EU Committee in the Turkish Parliament and as Co-Chairman of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission. Between 2007 and 2011, he served as the Chairman of the French Caucus in the Turkish Parliament. He is a member of the Turkish-Greek Forum and Co-Chairman of the Turkish British “Tatlıdil” Forum. Ambassador (R) Yakış was bestowed on the Decoration of the King Abdulaziz (first degree), Legion d’Honneur (Officier) and L’Ordine della Stella della Solidarieta Italiana (Commandatore) for his many years of diplomatic service.

Having made incalculable contributions to GRF in his capacity as a Board Member, as well as his unwavering support throughout his membership, we mourn his loss and offer our sincerest condolences to his family and loves ones during this difficult time.