Adnan Kahveci
Encyclopedia
Adnan Kahveci was a noted Turkish
politician
, one of the founders in 1983 of the Motherland Party
(ANAP
) led by Turgut Özal
and who served as minister in successive governments throughout the 1980s. Prior to his political career in Turkey, he had also led a successful career as an electrical engineer and academician in the United States
, having done his studies in Purdue University
and having risen to become a professor at the University of Missouri
.
, Trabzon
in 1949. Adnan Kahveci was recognized very early as a child prodigy
, having come first in a nationwide exam organized by the newspaper Milliyet
among primary school students in 1961, in the entry exams for the select Kabataş High School in 1966, in another nationwide exam organized this time by the newspaper Hürriyet
and among high school students, in the nationwide university entry exams in 1966 and in Istanbul University
scholarship exams. He pursued his studies in electrical engineering in Purdue University in the United States and obtained his doctorate
from Missouri University where he went on to become a professor.
After his return to Turkey, he was, for a time in the academic staff of Boğaziçi University
.
He was one of the founders of ANAP
(Motherland Party), and served for three terms as a minister (Minister of State
responsible, notably, for the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation
which, under his tenure, slowly and through equivocal means ceased to be the single TV channel in Turkey's media, as well as Minister of Finance) in the Turkish government
. Kahveci played a catalytic role in many of the key steps taken by ANAP in the eighties, starting from internal and external politics, down until back office detective work when he arranged himself for a minister who had accepted a pay off for contracting a shipment of oil to be taped during the conversation on the transaction and brought the recording to his mentor Özal .
Both in office and during the short subsequent period he spent as a member of the opposition, he was widely recognized as a maverick deputy, who spoke his mind irrespective of the party line .
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, one of the founders in 1983 of the Motherland Party
Motherland Party
Motherland Party is the name of several parties:-See also:*Fatherland Party *List of generic names of political parties....
(ANAP
ANAP
ANAP may refer to:*National Association of Small Farmers in Cuba*The Motherland Party of Turkey *Alliance Party for the Sake of Azerbaijan , a political party in Azerbaijan*Afghan National Auxiliary Police...
) led by Turgut Özal
Turgut Özal
Halil Turgut Özal was Prime Minister of Turkey and President of Turkey . As Prime Minister, he transformed the economy of Turkey by paving the way for the privatization of many state enterprises.-Early life and career:...
and who served as minister in successive governments throughout the 1980s. Prior to his political career in Turkey, he had also led a successful career as an electrical engineer and academician in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, having done his studies in Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
and having risen to become a professor at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
.
Biography
He was born in SürmeneSürmene
Sürmene is a town and a district of Trabzon Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. In ancient times it was also known as Hyssus or Hyssos and Issiporto. The mayor is Fikri Usta ....
, Trabzon
Trabzon
Trabzon is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast...
in 1949. Adnan Kahveci was recognized very early as a child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
, having come first in a nationwide exam organized by the newspaper Milliyet
Milliyet
Milliyet is a major Turkish daily newspaper founded in 1950.-History:Milliyet came to publishing life at the Nuri Akça press in Babıali, Istanbul as a daily private newspaper on 3 May 1950...
among primary school students in 1961, in the entry exams for the select Kabataş High School in 1966, in another nationwide exam organized this time by the newspaper Hürriyet
Hürriyet
-External links:* * ** * *...
and among high school students, in the nationwide university entry exams in 1966 and in Istanbul University
Istanbul University
Istanbul University is a Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square.- Synopsis :A madrasa, a religious school, was established sometime in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. An institution of higher education named the...
scholarship exams. He pursued his studies in electrical engineering in Purdue University in the United States and obtained his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from Missouri University where he went on to become a professor.
After his return to Turkey, he was, for a time in the academic staff of Boğaziçi University
Bogaziçi University
Boğaziçi University is a public university located on the European side of the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul, Turkey. It has five faculties and two schools offering undergraduate degrees, and six institutes offering graduate degrees...
.
He was one of the founders of ANAP
Motherland Party (Turkey)
The Motherland Party, was a political party in Turkey. It was founded in 1983 by Turgut Özal. It was merged to Democratic Party in October 2009...
(Motherland Party), and served for three terms as a minister (Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
responsible, notably, for the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation
Turkish Radio and Television Corporation
The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, also known as TRT , is the national public broadcaster of Turkey and was founded in 1964. Around 70% of TRT's funding comes from a tax levied on electricity bills and a sales tax on television and radio receivers...
which, under his tenure, slowly and through equivocal means ceased to be the single TV channel in Turkey's media, as well as Minister of Finance) in the Turkish government
Politics of Turkey
Politics of Turkey takes place in a framework of a strictly secular parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Turkey is the head of government, and of a multi-party system...
. Kahveci played a catalytic role in many of the key steps taken by ANAP in the eighties, starting from internal and external politics, down until back office detective work when he arranged himself for a minister who had accepted a pay off for contracting a shipment of oil to be taped during the conversation on the transaction and brought the recording to his mentor Özal .
Both in office and during the short subsequent period he spent as a member of the opposition, he was widely recognized as a maverick deputy, who spoke his mind irrespective of the party line .