Bülent Ecevit (1925-2006)

Well known social democrat who was forced to flee Turkey in 1980, after the government of the day was overthrown by the military. After being in exile in Europe, he returned some years later to Turkey and in the late 90´s he was elected prime minister again. A post he held until he lost the election in 2002. In his latter years in power, he appeared seriously weakened by illness. Something that he himself refused to accept.
Ecevit will be remembered mostly for ordering the Turkish military into Cyprus in 1974, where they occupied the northern half of the country to prevent its union with Greece. It was proclaimed to be Turkish-Cypriot and it became the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983 but this is only recognised in Turkey. It was not until 2003 and after long and difficult diplomatic negotiations that the border between northern and southern Cyprus was reopened.