Feridun Cemal Erkin

Feridun Cemal Erkin (1899–1980) was a Turkish diplomat and politician. He was the minister of foreign affairs between 1962 and 1965. He served as the ambassador of Turkey in various countries, including Italy, the United States of America, Spain, France and the United Kingdom.

Early life and education Feridun Cemal was born in İstanbul in 1899. He had two brothers, one of who was Ulvi Cemal, a composer.

Feridun Cemal graduated from Galatasaray High School in 1920. One of the most significant visits of him as the minister of foreign affairs was to the Soviet Union in November 1964. Because it was the first visit of a Turkish minister to the Soviet Union since 1940. In 1970 Erkin was elected as senator.

Death Erkin died on 21 June 1980.

Work and legacy In 1968 Erkin published a book, Türk Sovyet İlişkileri ve Boğazlar Meselesi, (Turkish: Turkey Soviet Union Relations and the Straits Question). His memoir was published by the Turkish Historical Society in 1994 with the title Dışişlerinde 34 Yıl: Anılar-Yorumlar (Turkish: 34 Years at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Memories–comments).

Awards Erkin was awarded by Greece the Order of the Phoenix due to his activities as the head of Turkish aid commission during World War II.