Safa Giray | |
Nationality: | Turkish |
Order: | Minister of Foreign Affairs |
Primeminister: | Mesut Yılmaz |
Term Start: | 23 June 1991 |
Term End: | 21 November 1991 |
Predecessor: | Ahmet Kurtcebe Alptemoçin |
Successor: | Hikmet Çetin |
Order2: | Minister of National Defense |
Primeminister2: | Turgut Özal, Yıldırım Akbulut |
Term Start2: | 30 March 1989 |
Term End2: | 19 October 1990 |
Predecessor2: | Ercan Vuralhan |
Successor2: | Güneş Taner |
Order3: | Minister of Public Works and Housing |
Primeminister3: | Turgut Özal |
Term Start3: | 13 December 1983 |
Term End3: | 30 March 1989 |
Predecessor3: | Ahmert Samsunlu |
Successor3: | Cengiz Altınkaya |
Birth Date: | 5 March 1931 |
Birth Place: | İzmir, Turkey |
Death Date: | 20 June 2011 (aged 80) |
Death Place: | Ankara, Turkey |
Alma Mater: | Istanbul Technical University |
Education: | Civil engineering |
Profession: | Civil engineer, politician |
Party: | Motherland Party (ANAP) |
İsmail Safa Giray (5 March 1931[1] – 20 June 2011[2]) was a Turkish civil engineer and politician from the Motherland Party (Turkish: Anavatan Partisi, ANAP). He was a member of the Turkish parliament and served as Minister of Public Works and Housing,[3] Minister of National Defense,[4] and Minister of Foreign Affairs.[5]
Safa Giray was born in İzmir, Turkey in 1931, as a descendant of the former Giray Dynasty. He graduated in 1954 with a degree from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Istanbul Technical University.[6]
Safa Giray entered politics in 1983 along with Turgut Özal from the beginnings of the Motherland Party[7] and was elected into the parliament as an MP from Balıkesir Province.[8] He held the office of Minister of Public Works and Settlement (13 December 1983 – 30 March 1989) in two Turgut Özal cabinets,[3] Minister of National Defense (30 March 1989 – 19 October 1990) in the Yıldırım Akbulut cabinet. He resigned from the position because of inter-party and cabinet conflicts.[4] [9] Later, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs (23 June 1991 – 21 November 1991) by Prime minister Mesut Yılmaz. He left politics in 1999 after 16 years.[7]
In 1993, Safa Giray was accused of fraud and misuse of authority during his time of service as Minister of Public Works. He was tried before the Supreme Court[10] in conjunction with the awarding of contracts for motorway construction.[11] He was found not guilty and was acquitted on 12 April 1995.[12]
Safa Giray died on 20 June 2011 in Ankara and was buried in Gölbaşı Cemetery following a state funeral in front of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and a funeral service at the Kocatepe Mosque.[13]