Biography

Osman Örek was born in Lefkoşa on 26 December 1925. He completed high school education in Lefkoşa. He later admitted to Istanbul University's Faculty of Law. While studying there, Örek founded the Turkish Cypriot High Schools Alumni Association in 1944 and the Association of Cyprus Schools Graduates in 1946. He graduated from the university in 1949. Later, he returned to the Island after receiving the title of Barrister-at-Law from the Middle Temple in London.

Örek served as Lefkoşa Branch Secretary in the National Unity Party (Milli Birlik Partisi, MBP) between 1953 and 1955 and served as the General Secretary of the MBP between the years of 1955-1960.

Örek became the Vice-President of the Evkaf Foundation and the President of the Turkish Schools Commission between 1956 and 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 at the quintet London Conference as the Head of Turkish Society delegation in 1959.

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

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

After the 1974 Peace Operation,

Osman Örek took charge as Foreign and Defence Minister and Vice-President in the Autonomous Cyprus Turkish Administration between 1975 and 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 TRNC Constituent Assembly established upon the declaration of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983.

Örek passed away on 24 March 1999.