Di̇plomat Hasan Esat Işık's biography (1916-1989)

In this M.A. thesis, diplomat and politician Hasan Esat Işık's whose father and grandfathers were prominent figures in the Ottoman Empire, life were principally studied. Within this context, works and duties of Hasan Esat Işık's, being Unionist Esat Pasha's son, throughout his services in Turkish state were put forward. Hasan Esat Işık, who was born in İstanbul in 1916, completed his primary and secondary education at Saint Joseph in Kadıköy, and finished his high school at Galatasaray. He registered Ankara Law Faculty in 1937 and graduated in 1940. In the same year he started to work for Turkish Foreign Affairs Ministry. Işık, who was a prominent diplomat in Foreign Ministry, was questioned after 27 May 1960 military coup. Later, he was appointed as Turkish ambassador to Brussels. Then he chaired the 'Common Market' negotiation committee, which was the first step of Turkey's way to European Union membership and he played an important role in signing the Ankara Protocol. After this distinguished success, he was appointed as ambassador to Moscow in 1964. Afterwards, he officiated as Turkish Foreign Minister for a while, which was the first experience for him as a minister. Later on, Işık returned to Moscow as ambassador. After Moscow service, he was appointed as an ambassador to Paris. During his work at Turkish Embassy in Paris, as a reaction to an Armenian Monument which was set up in Marseille in 1973, he returned back to Turkey in order to protest French government. He went into politics as a member of the Republican People's Party. He was elected as a parliamentarian from Bursa and he officiated as Defense Ministry in Bülent Ecevit Governments in 1970s. Hasan Esat Işık stepped down from the ministry 15 January 1979. His name was in the 'Writ of Prohibited' list after 1980 Military Coup. He passed away in 2nd July 1989 at İbn-i Sina Hospital in Ankara. Key Words: Hasan Esat Işık, Esat Pasha, Diplomat, Politician, Ankara Protocol, Cyprus Peace Operation.