OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

 

 
 

BIOGRAPHIES OF CABINET MEMBERS
 
 
PRIME MINISTER

 
RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN

He was born in İstanbul in 1954. Completed his education in İstanbul too. He is a graduate of Marmara University College of Business.

He is married and has four children.



 

 

 
 

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS  AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

ABDULLAH GÜL
 
  
Born in Kayseri in 1950. Graduated from the Faculty of Economics, İstanbul University. Received a scholarship and lived in London and Exeter for two years, doing his master’s and doctorate degrees. Worked for the Islamic Development Bank. Served as State Minister in the 54th Government. Elected Deputy Chairman of the Virtue Party (FP). Entered Parliament as an FP deputy for the third time in 1999. Became Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AKP). Speaks English and Arabic. Married with three children.

 
 
MINISTER OF STATE AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

abulatif sener
 
Assc. Prof. ABDULLATİF ŞENER

 

Born in Yıldızeli, Sivas in 1954. Graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences, Ankara University. After working in the public sector, entered the university for an academic career. Served as Finance Minister in the 54th Government in1996-1997. Sivas Deputy Şener is married and has four children. Speaks French and Arabic.

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF STATE AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
 
MEHMET ALİ ŞAHİN

Born in Karabük in 1950. Graduated from the Faculty of Law, İstanbul University. Elected as İstanbul Deputy during the 20th and 21st terms. Şahin is married and has four children.

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF STATE
 
Prof. Dr. MEHMET AYDIN

Born in Elazığ in 1943. Graduated from the Theology Department, Ankara University. Worked as professor at the Faculty of Theology, 9 September University. Author of a number of books, Prof. Aydın is married and speaks English, French and Arabic.

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF STATE
 
Prof. Dr. BEŞİR ATALAY

Born in Armutlu in 1947. Graduated from the Faculty of Law, Ankara University. Served as Head of the Social Planning Department, State Planning Organization, and Founding Rector of Kırıkkale University. Prof. Atalay is married with three children and speaks English.

 

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF STATE
 
ALİ BABACAN

Born in Ankara in 1967. Graduated with honors from TED Ankara College and the Industrial Engineering Department, Middle East Technical University. Babacan is married, has one child and speaks English.

 

 

 
 MINISTER OF STATE
NİMET ÇUBUKÇU

AYRANCI – 1965, Ferit-Emine – Istanbul University Faculty of Law – independent lawyer – Justice and Development Party founding member – married, with one child

 

 

  
 
MINISTER OF JUSTICE
 
FAHRİ KASIRGA

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
VECDİ GÖNÜL

Born in Erzincan in 1939. Graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences, Ankara University. Worked as a member of the Supreme Court of Accounts. Served as Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Kocaeli Deputy Gönül is married and has three children.

 

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR
  
  

OSMAN GÜNEŞ

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF FINANCE
 
 
KEMAL UNAKITAN 

Born in Edirne in 1946. Graduated from the Ankara Economic and Commercial Sciences Academy. Served as Financial Comptroller of the Ministry of Finance. Was an executive board member in the SEKA Directorate General, Albaraka Türk and Family Finance.

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF NATIONAL EDUCATION
 
 
Assc. Prof. HÜSEYİN ÇELİK
Born in Gürpınar, Van in 1959. Graduated from the Faculty of
Literature, İstanbul University in 1983 and began to work at
the 100 th Year University as an assistant the same year.
Received his doctorate degree in 1997. Elected as Van
Deputy from the True Path Party (DYP) ticket in 18 April
1999 elections. Resigned from DYP and co-founded the
Justice and Development Party (AKP). Author of 11 books,
Dr. Çelik is married with three children and speaks English.

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING
 
 
FARUK ÖZAK

 

TRABZON – 1946, Ali Haydar-Safiye – Karadeniz Technical University Civil Engineering Department – English – civil engineer with M.S. degree – Trabzonspor Football Team coach, winner of Sportsman of the Year Award, Deputy Chairman and Chairman of Trabzonspor, Chairman of the Executive Board of Yapısan Inc., founder of the Trabzon Development Foundation – married, with two children

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF HEALTH
 
 
Prof. Dr. RECEP AKDAĞ

Born in Erzurum in 1960. Graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Erzurum Atatürk University. Became a professor in 1999. While teaching at the Pediatric Department of the Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, he won a seat in Parliament as Erzurum Deputy in the 3 November Elections. Prof. Akdağ is married and has five children. He speaks English.

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF TRANSPORT
 
 
İSMET YILMAZ

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS
 
MEHMET MEHDİ EKER

BİSMİL – 1956, Abdullah-Fehime – Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, M.S. degree from University of Aberdeen Agricultural Economy, Scotland – Ph.D. from Ankara University Institute of Health Sciences – Deputy Director of Lalahan Livestock Center Institute of Research, Director of Veterinary Medicine of the Greater Istanbul Municipality, Deputy General Director of the Agriculture Ministry’s Agricultural Production and Development Department, General Director of Protection and Control, Ministry Counsel – married, with three children

 

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY
 
MURAT BAŞESGİOĞLU

Born in Kastamonu in1955. Graduated from the Faculty of Law, İstanbul University. Elected as Kastamonu Deputy in the 18th, 19 th, and 20 th terms. Served as Interior Minister. He later resigned from the Motherland Party and joined the AKP. Başesgioğlu is married with two children and speaks French.

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE
 
 
ALİ COŞKUN

Born in Başpınar village of Kemaliye, Erzincan in 1939. Graduated from the Faculty of Engineering, Yıldız Technical University. Served as President of TOBB (Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges) and as Vice President of Islamic Countries Union of Chambers. Elected as İstanbul Deputy from the Third Electoral District . Coşkun is married with two children. He speaks German and English.

 

 
 
MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
 
 
Dr. HİLMİ GÜLER

Born in Ordu in 1949. Graduated from the Metallurgical Engineering Department, Middle East Technical University. Served at the Turkish Aviation Industry Corporation (TUSAŞ), the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK), Ereğli Iron and Steel Works, İGDAŞ and Etibank. Ordu Deputy Güler is married with two children and speaks English.

 

 

 
 

 

 
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
 ATİLLA KOÇ

AYDIN – 1946, Ali-Zehra – Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences – English – Chief of Civil Administration – Head Official of District, Interior Ministry Counsel, Konya Director of Security, Ulubey, Nusaybin, Bayındır Head Official of District, Siirt, Giresun Governor, Prime Ministry Undersecretary, Ankara Metropolitan Secretary General, Center Governor – married, with three children

 

  
 
 
MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY
 
OSMAN PEPE
Born in Akçaabat in 1954. Graduated from the Faculty of
Mechanical Engineering, Black Sea Technical University.
Completed his master’s degree at İstanbul Institute of
Business Management. Entered the Parliament as Kocaeli
Deputy in the 20th term. Pepe is married with four children
and speaks English.

 

 

 

 

 
 
MINISTER OF STATE
 
KÜRŞAD TÜZMEN

Born in 1958. Graduated from the Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Middle East Technical University in 1981. Appointed as Undersecretary to Foreign Trade Undersecretariat and served as Chairman of the TÜRK Eximbank and Chairman of the Center for Studies to Promote Foreign Trade. Tüzmen is also the Chairman of the World Free Trade Zones.