Sönmez Köksal is a retired career diplomat who has served as Ambassador of Turkey in France , in Iraq and Permanent Delegate to the Council of Europe. He was Undersecretary of State in charge of Turkish National Intelligence Organization from 1992 to 1998. Mr Köksal has served in several posts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Deputy Director General in charge of Multilateral Economic Relations, Deputy Permanent Delegate to the EEC, Director of the Middle East and Africa Department and Director of the Policy Planning Department. Mr Köksal was until recently President of the Board of Trustees of the Istanbul Commerce University and a member of the academic staff at Işık University. He is currently member of the Wise Men Center for Strategic Studies in Istanbul. Mr Köksal is a graduate of the Faculty of Political Sciences of Ankara University.