Speaker
Yaşar
Yakiş
Position
Yasar Yakis Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. Born in 1938. Studied Political Science in the Ankara University. Joined the diplomatic service in 1962. Served as Ambassador in Riyadh and Cairo and as the Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations Office in Vienna. Taught lessons on “Water Diplomacy” and “Turkey’s Foreign Policy” in Bilkent and Hacettepe Universities in Ankara. Editor of the book “Water Issue in the Middle East”. Author of the article “Legal principles governing the Trans-boundary Watercourses”. Founding member of the ruling Justice and Development Party in Turkey. Member of the Convention to draft the European Constitution. Chairman of the EU Committee in the Turkish Parliament. Awards: Decoration of King Abdelaziz of Saudi Arabia (1st degree); Decoration Ordine della Solidarieta Italiana (Commandatore); Legion d’Honneur (Officier). Maried, one child. Speaks French, English and Arabic.