Zeki Kuneralp

Zeki Kuneralp
Turkish Ambassador to Switzerland
In office
1960–1964
Turkish Ambassador to the United Kingdom
In office
1964–1966
In office
1969–1972
Turkish Ambassador to Spain
In office
1972–1979
Personal details
Born5 October 1914
Istanbul, Ottoman Empire
Died26 July 1998(1998-07-26) (aged 83)
Istanbul, Turkey
NationalityTurkish
SpouseNecla Özdilci
Children2 sons
Parents
RelativesWilfred Johnson (half-brother)
Stanley Johnson (nephew)
ProfessionDiplomat

Zeki Kuneralp (5 October 1914 – 26 July 1998) was a Turkish diplomat, who was brought up in exile in Switzerland after the murder of his father, Ali Kemal Bey, during the Turkish War of Independence. After his education he returned to Turkey and, with the express approval of President İsmet İnönü, entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At first taking up diplomatic posts throughout Europe, Kuneralp was later appointed Turkish Ambassador to Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Spain, as well as twice serving as Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry. He survived an assassination attempt which claimed the lives of his wife and her brother in Madrid in 1978. He retired, in part due to ill-health, in 1979, renouncing the world and current affairs,[1] and turning his attention instead to writing and publishing. His autobiography was translated into English in 1992, while others of his books are considered important sources of twentieth century Turkish history. He died in Istanbul in 1998.

  1. ^ "Obituary: Zeki Kuneralp". The Independent. 1998-08-11. Retrieved 2022-11-09.