Turkish Ambassador laid to rest in Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Pelin Batu (L) and CHP head Kılıçdaroğlu (R) attended İnal Batu’s funeral.

Retired ambassador and former deputy İnal Batu was laid to rest after his funeral in Istanbul’s Teşvikiye Mosque yesterday.

Batu, who was put into an intensive care unit on July 26, passed away due to heart failure on Aug. 5 after two months of treatment at a private hospital in Istanbul.

Apart from Batu’s wife Nevra, actress and TV presenter daugther Pelin and son Arda, prominent figures such as Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, former prime minister Mesut Yılmaz, CHP deputy Akif Hamzaçebi, retired ambassador and former CHP deputy Onur Öymen, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Abdulkadir Aksu and the 8th Turkish President Turgut Özal’s son Ahmet Özal also attended the funeral prayer.

Kılıçdaroğlu delivered his condolences to Batu’s family and said that Batu was a reputable diplomat.

Yılmaz said he was deeply grieved as Batu was an invaluable friend. “He had great services. He could not accommodate himself to politics very much. I am very sorry for the loss,” Yılmaz said.

One of Turkey’s prominent diplomats, he had represented the country in Nicosia, Prague, Islamabad, United Nations and Rome. Batu served as CHP’s Hatay deputy during the 22nd parliamentary period.