Öztürk Yılmaz
| Öztürk Yılmaz MP |
|
|---|---|
| File:Ozturk Yilmaz.jpg | |
| Deputy Chairperson of the Republican People's Party's board | |
| Assumed office 25 January 2016 |
|
| Leader | Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu |
| Member of the Grand National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 1 November 2015 |
|
| Constituency | Ardahan (Nov 2015) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1969 Ardahan, Turkey |
| Nationality |  Turkey |
| Political party | Republican People's Party |
| Education | International relations |
| Alma mater | Middle East Technical University |
| Occupation | Diplomat, politician |
Öztürk Yılmaz (born 1969) is a former Turkish diplomat and politician from the Republican People's Party (CHP) who currently serves as a Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Ardahan since the November 2015 general election. Having served as the Turkish embassy secretary to Kyrgyzstan and Brazil, he was appointed as the Consul General of Turkey to Mosul in 2013. He was taken hostage in June 2015 and held for 101 days along with 48 other diplomats after Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants took over the city, being released under undisclosed circumstances by the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation (MİT) on 20 September 2014.
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Early life and career
Öztürk Yılmaz was born in 1969 in Ardahan, completing his early education there before graduating from the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) Department of International Relations. He began working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1996, serving as a manager in the departments responsible for the Balkans, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus. He completed a masters degree in the Vrije Universiteit Brussel on the topic of European Union integration and development.[1]
Diplomatic career
In his overseas diplomatic career, Yılmaz was first appointed as Secretary to the Turkish Ambasssy to Kyrgyzstan and later to Brazil. He also served as an Undersecretary to the Permanent Representation of Turkey to the European Union. On 13 July 2013, he was appointed as the Consul General of Turkey to Mosul, Iraq.[2]
ISIL hostage crisis
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While serving as the Consul General in Mosul while the city was under the occupation of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) forces, Yılmaz and 48 other diplomatic staff and their family members were taken hostage by ISIL militants in June 2014. After 101 days and alleged negotiations between the government and ISIL, all 49 hostages were released and brought back to Turkey via Syria by the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation (MİT) in September 2014.[3] The circumstances of their release was unspecified, though the government claimed that no operation had been carried out. Opposition politicians and journalists alleged that the government had paid a ransom to the militants to secure their release.
Political career
He became Ambassador to Tajikistan and then resigned from his position to run for parliamentary election upon invitation from chairman of the CHP party. He won election in a sweeping victory and entered into parliament. He secured to be elected to 60 members Assamby of the CHP Party and then appointed as vise chairman of the CHP Party in charge of foreign affairs.
