By:Hambersom Aghbashian
Mehmet Ufuk Uras (born January 4, 1959, in Üsküdar district of Istanbul, Turkey) is a Turkish libertarian socialist politician and economist. 
He was elected to the Turkish parliament in 2007 hence became the first socialist independent candidate since the 1960s. Uras graduated from the Faculty of Economics ( Istanbul University) and began working as an academician at the same institution. He was elected the chairman of Freedom and Solidarity Party in 1996 and resigned from the leadership after the 2002 general election. He became the party chairman again in 2007.Uras ran a successful campaign as a “common candidate of the Left”, standing on the independents’ ticket, backed by several left-wing, environmentalist and pro-peace groups in the 2007 general election. After the Democratic Society Party was dissolved in December 2009 and two of its MPs were banned from politics for five years, he joined forces with the remaining Kurdish MPs, giving them the twenty seats necessary to retain their position as a parliamentary party. Uras wrote many books in Turkish mostly political. He is married to ballet dancer and choreographer Zeynep Tanbay.(1)
According to armeniapedia.org(08.09.2007) ,for the first time in history a member of the Turkish parliament(Turkish MP Mehmet Ufuk Uras ) recognized the Armenian Genocide and spoke of restitution of the despoiled property, independent French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net. In an interview with journalist Raffí Arax , Ufuk said, “We committed a terrible massacre against Armenians and Turkey must recognize it. It’s not important how we name this calamity: genocide, ethnic purification, etc. The most important thing is that a terrible massacre was committed and it is undeniable.” He added “We must face up to the history, bandage the wounds, develop the relations with Armenia, defend our Armenian compatriots and restore what was the property of their ancestors. I come from the area of Durig close to Sebastia where I heard the truth from my parents,” he said. “We are confident that with the negation will drive to nothing,” he resumed. (2)
According to bianet.org (Sept.2008), as a deputy for the Freedom and Solidarity Party Ufuk Uras said, “The steps taken because of the soccer match between Turkey and Armenia should be a beginning of a new era” and he listed a series of demands to improve the conditions of the Armenian citizens of Turkey. Getting ready to go to Erivan for the game, Uras urged for the opening of the border and the development of the economic relations between the two countries. “Our Armenian citizens should feel themselves as the equal citizens of this country; they should not face any discrimination in social life, especially in public life.” He added “The history should be discussed freely; all the restriction should be removed. An atmosphere of discussion without any prejudices should be encouraged.” (3)
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1-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ufuk_Uras
2-http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Ufuk_Uras
3- http://bianet.org/english/minorities/109555-socialist-deputy-uras-urges-better-relations-with-armenia
Also published on
Nor Or , April 3,2014