Retired Ambassador Bilal Şimşir has passed away

Retired ambassador and historian-author Bilal Niyazi Şimşir has passed away at the age of 90.

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources!

Retired Ambassador Bilal Şimşir has passed away

The İnönü Foundation has announced that retired ambassador and historian-author Bilal Niyazi Şimşir has passed away.

In a statement released by the foundation, it was stated: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of the İnönü Foundation’s very dear friend, retired ambassador, and highly esteemed author Bilal Şimşir. We extend our condolences to his loved ones and family.”

İnönü Vakfı’nın çok sevgili dostu, emekli büyükelçi, çok kıymetli yazar Bilal Şimşir’i kaybetmekten dolayı çok üzgünüz. Sevenlerine, ailesine başsağlığı diliyoruz.https://t.co/u46OcbFAHq #inönüvakfı #bilalşimşir
— İnönü Vakfı (@inonuvakfi) November 20, 2023

Bilal Niyazi Şimşir, who was among the “Honorary Members” of the Turkish Historical Society, was 90 years old.

Following the news of Şimşir’s passing, the Turkish Historical Society also published a message of condolence. The statement from the institution included the following remarks:

“Our honorary member Bilal Şimşir, whose passing we learned of with sadness, was a valuable ambassador who guided young diplomats with his experience, a prolific author, and a precious donor to our archives.

We pray for God’s mercy upon our honorary member Bilal Şimşir; we extend our condolences to his family and our community.”

WHO IS BİLAL NİYAZİ ŞİMŞİR?

Bilal Niyazi Şimşir was born in 1933.

After graduating from the Department of International Relations at the Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences in 1957, he worked as a research assistant at the Chair of Diplomatic History at the same faculty. He joined the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1960. He served as a chief clerk and counselor at the Turkish Embassies in Paris, Damascus, London, and The Hague. He held positions as a branch manager, department head, deputy general manager, and general manager at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters. He represented Turkey as an ambassador in Tirana, Beijing, and in Australia and South Pacific countries. He retired in 1998 after 38 years of service in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He is the author of 52 volumes of research books on recent history and approximately 160 articles. He was known for his research on British documents whose confidentiality period had expired and his books related to them.