Osman Örek

Osman Örek was born in Nicosia on 26 December 1925. He completed high school education in Nicosia. Afterwards he started to study at the Istanbul University Faculty of Law. He established the Turkish Cypriot High Schools Alumni Association in 1944 and the Association of Cyprus Schools Graduates in 1946. Örek graduated from the university in 1949 and became a Barrister-at-Law at London’s Middle Temple Inn. In 1952 he returned to the island.

Örek served as Lefkoşa Branch Secretary in the National Unity Party between the years of 1953-1955 and served as the General Secretary of the National Unity Party between the years of 1955-1960.

Örek became the Vice-President of Evkaf Foundation and the President of the Turkish Schools Commission between the years of 1956-1960. He was also one of the founders of the Turkish Chamber of Commerce in 1957.

Taking charge in the Cyprus Constitution negotiations held with British Governor Lord John Harding, Osman Örek attended as the Turkish society leader at the quintet London Conference.

Upon the declaration of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960, Osman Örek became the first Minister of Defence of the new Republic.

After the subversion of the “Republic of Cyprus”, Osman Örek took charge as Defence Minister in the General Committee which represented Turkish Cypriot people between the years of 1963-1967 and served as Foreign and Defence Minister in the Temporary Turkish Administration between the years of 1967-1974.

Osman Örek took charge as Foreign and Defence Minister and Vice-President in the Autonomous Cyprus Turkish Administration between the years of 1975-1976, and served as the first President of the Assembly of the Cyprus Turkish Federated State between the years of 1976-1978.

Becoming the second Prime Minister of the Cyprus Turkish Federated State in 1978, Örek also served as a constituent member of the new assembly upon the declaration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983.

Örek died on 24 March 1999.