DUSHANBE, June 18, 2015, Asia-Plus – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday sent a cable of condolences to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the death of former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
Rahmon, in particular, noted that Suleyman Demirel was one of the prominent politicians and statesmen.
The message notes that the people of Tajikistan lost its old and candid friend and Suleyman Demirel was one of the first world leaders to pay an official visit to Dushanbe though there was no political stability in Tajikistan in the first years of independence.
The government and the people of Tajikistan extend deepest condolences to the people of Turkey, the message says.
Mr. Demirel, who held office from 1993-2000, died yesterday early in the morning in Guven Hospital in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
He had reportedly been treated for a respiratory tract infection.
In a political carrier spanning nearly 50 years, he also served seven times as the country”s prime minister. His government was twice overthrown by the country”s powerful military.
Mr. Demirel led the Justice Party from 1964 until a military coup in 1980, which led to him and other politicians being banned from politics.
The ban was lifted in 1987, when Mr. Demirel formed the True Path Party (DYP) and became president six years later.
