{"id":9860,"date":"2009-03-05T13:57:57","date_gmt":"2009-03-05T10:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.turkishforum.com.tr\/en\/content\/?p=9860"},"modified":"2023-04-05T11:33:50","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T08:33:50","slug":"turkey-in-cia-files","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/2009\/03\/05\/turkey-in-cia-files\/","title":{"rendered":"TURKEY IN CIA FILES"},"content":{"rendered":"<table style=\"height: 400px;\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"596\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" height=\"449\" align=\"middle\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#000000\">This page was last updated on 24 February  2009<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" height=\"884\" align=\"middle\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr bgcolor=\"#cee09f\">\n<td width=\"2%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"20%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong><a name=\"Intro\">Introduction<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"59%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong> Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"19%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"6\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Bac  kground:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the  Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa  KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or &#8220;Father of the Turks.&#8221;  Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social,  legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party rule, an experiment  with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition  Democratic Party and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish  political parties have multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods  of instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980), which in each  case eventually resulted in a return of political power to civilians. In 1997,  the military again helped engineer the ouster &#8211; popularly dubbed a &#8220;post-modern  coup&#8221; &#8211; of the then Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on  Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as  patron state to the &#8220;Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,&#8221; which only Turkey  recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984 by the Kurdistan Workers&#8217;  Party (PKK) &#8211; now known as the People&#8217;s Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel  (KGK) &#8211; has dominated the Turkish military&#8217;s attention and claimed more  than 30,000 lives. After the capture of the group&#8217;s leader in 1999, the  insurgents largely withdrew from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGK  announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGK increased.  Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a member of NATO; it holds a  non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council from 2009-2010. In 1964, Turkey  became an associate member of the European Community. Over the past decade, it  has undertaken many reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy; it began  accession membership talks with the European Union in 2005.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr bgcolor=\"#cfdef3\">\n<td width=\"2%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"20%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong><a name=\"Geo\">Geography<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"59%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong> Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"19%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"6\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Location:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of  the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between  Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea,  between Greece and Syria<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Geographic coordinates:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">39 00 N, 35 00 E<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Map references:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/reference_%20%20maps\/middle_east.html\">Middle East<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Area:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n<em>total:<\/em> 780,580 sq km<br \/>\n<em>land:<\/em> 770,760 sq km<br \/>\n<em>water:<\/em> 9,820 sq km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Area &#8211; comparative:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">slightly larger than Texas<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Land boundaries:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>total:<\/em> 2,648 km<br \/>\n<em>border countries:<\/em> Armenia 268 km,  Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km,  Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Coastline:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">7,200 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Maritime claims:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>territorial sea:<\/em> 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and in  Mediterranean Sea<br \/>\n<em>exclusive economic zone:<\/em> in Black Sea only: to the  maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Climate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Terrain:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain  ranges<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Elevation extremes:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>lowest point:<\/em> Mediterranean Sea 0 m<br \/>\n<em>highest point:<\/em> Mount  Ararat 5,166 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Natural resources:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate,  celestite (strontium), emery, fel dspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite,  pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Land use:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>arable land:<\/em> 29.81%<br \/>\n<em>permanent crops:<\/em> 3.39%<br \/>\n<em>other:<\/em> 66.8% (2005)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Irrigated land:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">52,150 sq km (2003)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Total renewable water resources:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">234 cu km (2003)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Freshwater withdrawal  (domestic\/industrial\/agricultural):<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>total:<\/em> 39.78 cu km\/yr (15%\/11%\/74%)<br \/>\n<em>per capita:<\/em> 544  cu m\/yr (2001)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Natural hazards:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending  from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Environment &#8211; current issues:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution,  particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from  increasing Bosporus ship traffic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Environment &#8211; international agreements:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>party to:<\/em> Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate  Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer  Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands<br \/>\n<em>signed, but not ratified:<\/em> Environmental Modification<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Geography &#8211; note:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of  Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount Ararat, the  legendary landing place of Noah&#8217;s ark, is in the far eastern portion of the  country<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr bgcolor=\"#e6dcc6\">\n<td width=\"2%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"20%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong><a name=\"People\">People<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"59%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong> Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"19%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"6\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Population:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n71,892,808 (July 2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Age structure:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>0-14 years:<\/em> 24.4% (male 8,937,515\/female 8,608,375)<br \/>\n<em>15-64  years:<\/em> 68.6% (male 25,030,793\/female 24,253,312)<br \/>\n<em>65 yea rs and  over:<\/em> 7% (male 2,307,236\/female 2,755,576) (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Median age:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>total:<\/em> 29 years<br \/>\n<em>male:<\/em> 28.8 years<br \/>\n<em>female:<\/em> 29.2  years (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Population growth rate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n1.013% (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Birth rate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n16.15 births\/1,000 population (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Death rate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n6.02 deaths\/1,000 population (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Net migration rate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n0 migrant(s)\/1,000 population (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Sex ratio:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>at birth:<\/em> 1.05 male(s)\/female<br \/>\n<em>under 15 years:<\/em> 1.04  male(s)\/female<br \/>\n<em>15-64 years:<\/em> 1.03 male(s)\/female<br \/>\n<em>65 years and  over:<\/em> 0.84 male(s)\/female<br \/>\n<em>total population:<\/em> 1.02 male(s)\/female  (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Infant mortality rate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n<em>total:<\/em> 36.98 deaths\/1,000 live births<br \/>\n<em>male:<\/em> 40.44  deaths\/1,000 live births<br \/>\n<em>female:<\/em> 33.34 deaths\/1,000 live births (2008  est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Life expectancy at birth:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n<em>total population:<\/em> 73.14 years<br \/>\n<em>male:<\/em> 70.67 years<br \/>\n<em>female:<\/em> 75.73 years (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Total fertility rate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n1.87 children born\/woman (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">HIV\/AIDS &#8211; adult prevalence rate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\nless than 0.1%; note &#8211; no country specific models provided (2001 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">HIV\/AIDS &#8211; people living with HIV\/AIDS:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\nNA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">HIV\/AIDS &#8211; deaths:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\nNA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Nationality:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>noun:<\/em> Turk(s)<br \/>\n<em>adjective:<\/em> Turkish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Ethnic groups:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Religions:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Languages:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardian<br \/>\n<em>note:<\/em> there is also a substantial G agauz population in the European  part of Turkey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Literacy:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>definition:<\/em> age 15 and over can read and write<br \/>\n<em>total  population:<\/em> 87.4%<br \/>\n<em>male:<\/em> 95.3%<br \/>\n<em>female:<\/em> 79.6% (2004  est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">School life expectancy (primary to tertiary  education):<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>total:<\/em> 11 years<br \/>\n<em>male:<\/em> 12 years<br \/>\n<em>female:<\/em> 11 years  (2006)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Education expenditures:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n4% of GDP (2004)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr bgcolor=\"#d9cde1\">\n<td width=\"2%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"20%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong><a name=\"Govt\">Government<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"59%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong> Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"19%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"6\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Country name:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>conventional long form:<\/em> Republic of Turkey<br \/>\n<em>conventional short  form:<\/em> Turkey<br \/>\n<em>local long form:<\/em> Turkiye Cumhuriyeti<br \/>\n<em>local  short form:<\/em> Turkiye<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Government type:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">republican parliamentary democracy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Capital:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>name:<\/em> Ankara<br \/>\n<em>geographic coordinates:<\/em> 39 56 N, 32 52 E<br \/>\n<em>time difference:<\/em> UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during  Standard Time)<br \/>\n<em>daylight saving time:<\/em> +1hr, begins last Sunday in  March; ends last Sunday in October<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Administrative divisions:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">81 provinces (iller, singular &#8211; ili); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Agri,  Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin,  Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale,  Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum,  Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Icel (Mersin), Igdir,  Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir (Smyrna), Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars,  Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya,  Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye,  Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sinop,=2 0Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag,  Tokat, Trabzon (Trebizond), Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Independence:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">National holiday:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Republic Day, 29 October (1923)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Constitution:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">7 November 1982; amended 17 May 1987; note &#8211; amendment passed by referendum  concerning presidential elections on 21 October 2007<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Legal system:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">civil law system derived from various European continental legal systems;  note &#8211; member of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), although Turkey  claims limited derogations on the ratified European Convention on Human Rights;  has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Suffrage:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www..cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/docs\/notesanddefs.html#2123\"><img title=\"https:\/\/www..cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/docs\/notesanddefs.html#2123\" alt=\"Definiti\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n18 years of age; universal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Executive branch:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>chief of state:<\/em> President Abdullah GUL (since 28 August 2007)<br \/>\n<em>head of government:<\/em> Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 14  March 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Cemil CICEK (since 29 August 2007); Deputy  Prime Minister Hayati YAZICI (since 29 August 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Nazim  EKREN (since 29 August 2007)<br \/>\n<em>cabinet:<\/em> Council of Ministers appointed  by the president on the nomination of the prime minister<br \/>\n<em>elections:<\/em> president elected directly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);  prime minister appointed by the president from among members of parliament<br \/>\n<em>election results:<\/em> on 28 August 2007 the National Assembly elected  Abdullah GUL president on the third ballot; National Assembly vote &#8211; 339<br \/>\n<em>note:<\/em> in October 2007 Turkish voters approved a referendum package of  constitutional amendments including a provision for direct presidential  elections<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Legislative branch:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi  (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)<br \/>\n<em>elections:<\/em> last held on 22 July 2007 (next to be held on November  2012)<br \/>\n<em>election results:<\/em> percent of vote by party &#8211; AKP 46.7%, CHP  20.8%, MHP 14.3%, independents 5.2%, and other 13.0%; seats by party &#8211; AKP 341,  CHP 112, MHP 71, independents 26; note &#8211; seats by party as of 31 January 2009 &#8211;  AKP 340, CHP 97, MHP 70, DTP 21, DSP 13, ODP 1, BBP 1, independents 5, vacant 2  (DTP entered parliament as independents; DSP entered parliament on CHP&#8217;s party  list); only parties surpassing the 10% threshold are entitled to parliamenta ry  seats<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Judicial branch:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Constitutional Court; High Court of Appeals (Yargitay); Council of State  (Danistay); Court of Accounts (Sayistay); Military High Court of Appeals;  Military High Administrative Court<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Political parties and leaders:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Anavatan Partisi (Motherland Party) or Anavatan [Erkan MUMCU]; note &#8211; True  Path Party or DYP has merged with the Motherland Party; Democratic Left Party or  DSP [Zeki SEZER]; Democratic Society Party or DTP [Ahmet TUR K]; Felicity Party  or SP [Numan KURTULMUS] (sometimes translated as Contentment Party); Freedom and  Solidarity Party or ODP [Hayri KOZANOGLU]; Grand Unity Party or BBP [Mushin  YAZICIOGLU]; Justice and Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN];  Nationalist Movement Party or MHP [Devlet BAHCELI] (sometimes translated as  Nationalist Action Party); People&#8217;s Rise Party (Halkin Yukselisi Partisi) or HYP  [Yasar Nuri OZTURK]; Republican People&#8217;s Party or CHP [Deniz BAYKAL]; Social  Democratic People&#8217;s Party or SHP [Ugur CILASUN (acting)]; Young Party or GP [Cem  Cengiz UZAN]<br \/>\n<em>note:<\/em> the parties listed above are some of the more  significant of the 49 parties that Turkey had as of 31 January 2009<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Political pressure groups and leaders:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Sami EVREN]; Confederation of  Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [Suleyman CELEBI]; Independent  Industrialists&#8217; and Businessmen&#8217;s Association or MUSIAD [Omer Cihad  VARDAN]; Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [Salim USLU];=2 0Turkish  Confederation of Employers&#8217; Unions or TISK [Tugurl KUDATGOBILIK]; Turkish  Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is [Mustafa KUMLU]; Turkish Confederation of  Tradesmen and Craftsmen or TESK [Dervis GUNDAY]; Turkish Industrialists&#8217; and  Businessmen&#8217;s Association or TUSIAD [Arzuhan Dogan YALCINDAG]; Turkish  Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat  HISARCIKLIOGLU]<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">International organization participation:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">ADB (nonregional members), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN (observer),  EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EU (applicant), FAO, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,  IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,  ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW,  OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,  UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate),  WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Dipl omatic representation in the US:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>chief of mission:<\/em> Ambassador Nabi SENSOY<br \/>\n<em>chancery:<\/em> 2525  Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008<br \/>\n<em>telephone:<\/em> [1] (202)  612-6700<br \/>\n<em>FAX:<\/em> [1] (202) 612-6744<br \/>\n<em>consulate(s) general:<\/em> Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Diplomatic representation from the US:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>chief of mission:<\/em> Ambassador James F. JEFFREY<br \/>\n<em>embassy:<\/em> 110  Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara<br \/>\n<em>mailing address:<\/em> PSC 93,  Box 5000, APO AE 09823<br \/>\n<em>telephone:<\/em> [90]=2 0(312) 455-5555<br \/>\n<em>FAX:<\/em> [90] (312) 467-0019<br \/>\n<em>consulate(s) general:<\/em> Istanbul<br \/>\n<em>consulate(s):<\/em> Adana; note &#8211; there is a Consular Agent in Izmir<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Flag description:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist  side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr bgcolor=\"#c7dfde\">\n<td width=\"2%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"20%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong><a name=\"Econ\">Economy<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"59%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong> Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"19%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"6\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Economy &#8211; overview:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Turkey&#8217;s dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce  along with a traditional agriculture sector that still accounts for more than  35% of employment. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the  state still plays a major role in basic industry, banking, transport, and  communication. The largest industrial sector is textiles and clothing, which  accounts for one-third of industrial employment; it faces stiff competition in  international markets with the end of the global quota system. However, other  sectors, notably the automotive and electronics industries, are rising in  importance within Turkey&#8217;s export mix. Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in many  years, but this strong expansion has been interrupted by sharp declines in  output in 1994, 1999, and 2001. The economy turned around with the  implementation of economic reforms, and 2004 GDP growth reached 9%, followed by  roughly 5% annual growth from 2005-07. Due to global contractions, annual growth  is estimated to have fallen to 3.5% in 2008. Inflatio n fell to 7.7% in 2005 &#8211; a  30-year low &#8211; but climbed back to 8.5% in 2007. Despite the strong economic  gains from 2002-07, which were largely due to renewed investor interest in  emerging markets, IMF backing, and tighter fiscal policy, the economy is still  burdened by a high current account deficit and high external debt. Further  economic and judicial reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to  boost foreign direct investment. The stock value of FDI currently stands at  about $85 billion. Privatization sales are currently approaching $21 billion.  Oil began to flow through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline in May 2006,  marking a major milestone that will bring up to 1 million barrels per day from  the Caspian to market. In 2007 and 2008, Turkish financial markets weathered  significant domestic political turmoil, including turbulence sparked by  controversy over the selection of former Foreign Minister Abdullah GUL as  Turkey&#8217;s 11th president and the possible closure of the Justice and Development  Party (AKP). Economic fundamentals are sound, marked by moderate economic growth  and foreign direct investment. Nevertheless, the Turkish economy may be faced  with more negative economic indicators in 2009 as a result of the global  economic slowdown. In addition, Turkey&#8217;s high current account deficit leaves the  economy vulnerable to destabilizing shifts in investor confidence.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">GDP (purchasing power parity):<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#000000\">\n$930.9 billion (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">GDP (official exchange rate):<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">$798.9 billion (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">GDP &#8211; real growth rate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n4.5% (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">GDP &#8211; per capita (PPP):<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n$12,900 (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">GDP &#8211; composition by sector:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>agriculture:<\/em> 8.5%<br \/>\n<em>industry:<\/em> 28.6%<br \/>\n<em>services:<\/em> 62..9% (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Labor force:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n23.21 million<br \/>\n<em>note:<\/em> about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2008  est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Labor force &#8211; by occupation:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>agriculture:<\/em> 29.5%<br \/>\n<em>industry:<\/em> 24.7%<br \/>\n<em>services:<\/em> 45.8% (2005)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Unemployment rate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n7.9% plus underemployment of 4% (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Household income or consumption by percentage share:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>lowest 10%:<\/em> 2%<br \/>\n<em>highest 10%:<\/em> 34.1% (2003)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Distribution of family income &#8211; Gini index:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">43.6 (2003)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Investment (gross fixed):<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">21% of GDP (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Budget:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>revenues:<\/em> $164.6 billion<br \/>\n<em>expenditures:<\/em> $176.3 billion  (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Public debt:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n37.1% of GDP (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Inflation rate (consumer prices):<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n10.2% (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Central bank discount rate:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">25% (31 December 2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Stock of money:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2209rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n$64.43 billion (31 December 2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Stock of quasi money:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2210rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n$254.3 billion (31 December 2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Stock of domestic credit:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n$358.1 billion (31 December 2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Market value of publicly traded shares:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n$286.6 billion (31 December 2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Agriculture &#8211; products:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, hazelnuts, pulse, citrus;  livestock<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Industries:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">textiles, food processing, autos, electronics, mining (coal, chromite,  copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Electricity &#8211; production:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2038rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n181.6 billion kWh (2007 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Electricity &#8211; consumption:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2042rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n141.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Electricity &#8211; exports:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">2.576 billion kWh (2007 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Electricity &#8211; imports:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">863 million kWh (2007 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Oil &#8211; production:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2173rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n42,800 bbl\/day (2007 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Oil &#8211; consumption:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2174rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n676,600 bbl\/day (2007 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Oil &#8211; exports:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2176rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n114,600 bbl\/day (2005)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Oil &#8211; imports:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2175rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n714,100 bbl\/day (2005)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Oil &#8211; proved reserves:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2178rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n300 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Natural gas &#8211; production:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2180rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n893 million cu m (2007 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Natural gas &#8211; consumption:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2181rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n36.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Natural gas &#8211; exports:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">31 million cu m (2007 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Natural gas &#8211; imports:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2182rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n35.83 billion cu m (2007 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Natural gas &#8211; proved reserves:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia.gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/rankorder\/2179rank.html\"><\/span><br \/>\n8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Current account balance:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n-$51.68 billion (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Exports:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n$141.8 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Exports &#8211; commodities:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport equipment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Exports &#8211; partners:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cia..gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/fields\/2050.html\"><img title=\"https:\/\/www.cia..gov\/library\/publications\/the-world-factbook\/fields\/2050.html\" alt=\"Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order\" \/><\/span><br \/>\nGermany 11.2%, UK 8.1%, Italy 7%, France 5.6%, Russia 4.4%, Spain 4.3%  (2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Imports:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n$204.8 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Imports &#8211; commodities:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">machinery, chemical s, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport equipment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Imports &#8211; partners:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Russia 13.8%, Germany 10.3%, China 7.8%, Italy 5.9%, US 4.8%, France 4.6%  (2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n$82.82 billion (31 December 2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Debt &#8211; external:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n$294.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Stock of direct foreign investment &#8211; at home:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n$124.8 billion (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Stock of direct foreign investment &#8211; abroad:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n$13.97 billion (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Exchange rates:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar &#8211; 1.3179 (20 08 est.), 1.319 (2007),  1.4286 (2006), 1.3436 (2005), 1.4255 (2004)<br \/>\n<em>note:<\/em> on 1 January 2005  the old Turkish lira (TRL) was converted to new Turkish lira (TRY) at a rate of  1,000,000 old to 1 new Turkish lira; on 1 January 2009 the Turkish government  dropped the word &#8220;new&#8221; and the currency is now called simply the Turkish lira<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr bgcolor=\"#fefbc7\">\n<td width=\"2%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"20%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong><a name=\"Comm\">Communications<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"59%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong> Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"19%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"6\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Telephones &#8211; main lines in use:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">18.413 million (2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Telephones &#8211; mobile cellular:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n61.976 million (2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Telephone system:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>general assessment:<\/em> comprehensive telecommunications network  undergoing rapid modernization and expansion especially in mobile-cellular  services<br \/>\n<em>domestic:<\/em> additional digital exchanges are permitting a  rapid increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of technologically  advanced intercity trunk lines, using both fiber-optic cable and digital  microwave radio relay, is facilitating communication between urban centers;  remote areas are reached by a domestic satellite system; the number of  subscribers to mobile-cellular telephone service is growing rapidly<br \/>\n<em>international:<\/em> country code &#8211; 90; international service is provided  by the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable and by submarine fiber-optic cables in the  Mediterranean and Black Seas that link Turkey with Italy, Greece, Israel,  Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia; satellite earth stations &#8211; 12 Intelsat; mobile  satellite terminals &#8211; 328 in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Radio broadcast stations:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">AM 16, FM 107, shor twave 6 (2001)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Television broadcast stations:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Internet country code:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">..tr<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Internet hosts:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">=2  0<br \/>\n2.667 million (2008)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Internet users:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n13.15 million (2006)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr bgcolor=\"#f5e1c1\">\n<td width=\"2%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"20%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong><a name=\"Trans\">Transportation<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"59%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong> Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"19%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"6\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Airports:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n117 (2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Airports &#8211; with paved runways:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>total:<\/em> 90<br \/>\n<em>over 3,047 m:<\/em> 15<br \/>\n<em>2,438 to 3,047 m:<\/em> 33<br \/>\n<em>1,524 to 2,437 m:<\/em> 19<br \/>\n<em>914 to 1,523 m:<\/em> 19<br \/>\n<em>under 914  m:<\/em> 4 (2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Airports &#8211; with unpaved runways:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>total:<\/em> 27<br \/>\n<em>over 3,047 m:<\/em> 1<br \/>\n<em>1,524 to 2,437 m:<\/em> 2<br \/>\n<em>914 to 1,523 m:<\/em> 7<br \/>\n<em>under 914 m:<\/em> 17 (2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Heliports:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">18 (2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Pipelines:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">gas 7,511 km; oil 3,636 km (2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Railways:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n<em>total:<\/em> 8,697 km<br \/>\n<em>standard gauge:<\/em> 8,697 km 1.435-m gauge  (1,920 km electrified) (2006)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Roadways:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n<em>total:<\/em> 426,951 km (includes 1,987 km of expressways) (2006)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Waterways:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n1,200 km (2008)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Merchant marine:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n<em>total:<\/em> 612<br \/>\n<em>by type:<\/em> bulk carrier 101, cargo 281, chemical  tanker 70, combination ore\/oil 1, container 35, liquefied gas 7, passenger 4,  passenger\/cargo 51, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on\/roll off  28, specialized tanker 2<br \/>\n<em>foreign-owned:<\/em> 8 (Cyprus 2, Germany 1,  Greece 1, Italy 3, UAE 1)<br \/>\n<em>registered in other countries:<\/em> 595 (Albania  1, Antigua and Barbuda 6, Bahamas 8, Belize 15, Cambodia 26, Comoros 8, Dominica  5, Georgia 14, Greece 1, Isle of Man 2, Italy 1, Kiribati 1, Liberia 7, Malta  176, Marshall Islands 50, Moldova 3, Netherlands 1, Netherlands Antilles 10,  Panama 94, Russia 80, Saint Kitts and Nevis 35, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  20, Sierra Leone 15,=2 0Slovakia 10, Tuvalu 2, UK 2, unknown 2) (2008)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Ports and terminals:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Aliaga, Diliskelesi, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Mercin Limani, Nemrut Limani<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr bgcolor=\"#d6d6d6\">\n<td width=\"2%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"20%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong><a name=\"Military\">Military<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"59%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong> Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"19%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"6\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Military branches:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Turkish Land Forces (Turk Kara Kuvvetleri, TKK),  Turkish Naval Forces (Turk Deniz Kuvvetleri, TDK; includes naval air and naval  infantry), Turkish Air Force (Turk Hava Kuvvetleri, THK) (2008)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Military service age and obligation:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">20 years of age (2004)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Manpower available for military service:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>males age 16-49:<\/em> 20,213,205<br \/>\n<em>females age 16-49:<\/em> 19,432,688  (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Manpower fit for military service:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>males age 16-49:<\/em> 17,011,635<br \/>\n<em>females age 16-49:<\/em> 16,433,364  (2008 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Manpower reaching militarily significant age  annually:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>male: \/I&gt; 660,452<br \/>\n<em>female:<\/em> 638,527 (2008 est.) <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Military expenditures:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">\n5.3% of GDP (2005 est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Military &#8211; note:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">a &#8220;National Security Policy Document&#8221; adopted in October 2005 increases the  Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) role in internal se curity, augmenting the General  Directorate of Security and Gendarmerie General Command (Jandarma); the TSK  leadership continues to play a key role in politics and considers itself  guardian of Turkey&#8217;s secular state; in April 2007, it warned the ruling party  about any pro-Islamic appointments; despite on-going negotiations on EU  accession since October 2005, progress has been limited in establishing required  civilian supremacy over the military; primary domestic threats are listed as  fundamentalism (with the definition in some dispute with the civilian  government), separatism (the Kurdish problem), and the extreme left wing; Ankara  strongly opposed establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region; an overhaul of  the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) taking place under the &#8220;Force 2014&#8221;  program is to produce 20-30% smaller, more highly trained forces characterized  by greater mobility and firepower and capable of joint and combined operations;  the TLFC has taken on increasing international peacekeeping responsibilities,  and took charge of a NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command  in Afghanistan in April 2007; the Turkish Navy is a regional naval power that  wants to develop the capability to project power beyond Turkey&#8217;s coastal waters;  the Navy is heavily involved in NATO, multinational, and UN operations; its  roles include control of territorial waters and security for sea lines of  communications; the Turkish Air Force adopted an &#8220;Aerospace and Missile Defense  Concept&#8221; in 2002 and has initiated project work on an integrated missile defense  sy stem; Air Force priorities include attaining a modern deployable, survivable,  and sustainable force structure, and establishing a sustainable command and  control system (2008)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr bgcolor=\"#e5b2ac\">\n<td width=\"2%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"20%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong><a name=\"Issues\">Transnational Issues<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"59%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><strong> Turkey<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"19%\" height=\"31\" align=\"left\" valign=\"center\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"6\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Disputes &#8211; international:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean  Sea; status of north Cyprus question remains; Syria and Iraq protest Turkish  hydrological projects to control upper Euphrates20waters; Turkey has expressed  concern over the status of Kurds in Iraq; border with Armenia remains closed  over Nagorno-Karabakh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Refugees and internally displaced persons:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\"><em>IDPs:<\/em> 1-1.2 million (fighting 1984-99 between Kurdish PKK and Turkish  military; most IDPs in southeastern provinces) (2007)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"20%\" valign=\"top\">Illicit drugs:<\/td>\n<td width=\"80%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\">key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and, to a  lesser extent, the US &#8211; via air, land, and sea routes; major20Turkish and other  international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to  convert imported morphine base into heroin exist in remote regions of Turkey and  near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium  poppy cultivation and over output of poppy straw concentrate; lax enforcement of  money-laundering controls<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This page was last updated on 24 February 2009 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This page was last updated on 24 February 2009 Introduction Turkey Bac kground: Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or &#8220;Father of the Turks.&#8221; Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":45977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[89],"tags":[200],"class_list":["post-9860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-turkey","tag-democracy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}