Simple Facts
| Geography: 780,580 sq km |
| Location: southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia |
| Population: 65 million |
| Capital: Istanbul |
| Ethnic Make-up: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% |
| Language: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek |
| Currency: Turkish Lira |
Economic Snapshot
The Turkish economy consists of a mixture, on the one hand, of modern industry and commerce, and, on the other hand, of time-honored village agriculture and crafts. Turkey has applied for European Union membership, but the December 2002 EU summit in Copenhagen told Ankara it would have to wait until at least the end of 2004 before negotiations could begin. After years of economic difficulties, an economic recovery program was agreed with the IMF in 2002. The government is pledged to make progress with tax reforms and privatization and to trim jobs in the public sector.
Recent History
| 1914-18 | Turkey enters World War I on the side of the Central Powers; collapse of the Ottoman empire; the British occupy Istanbul. |
| 1919 | Mustafa Kemal, or "Atatürk", leads a nationalist movement. |
| 1920-22 | Turkish War of Independence; many Greeks leave Turkey. |
| 1923 | Atatürk establishes the Republic of Turkey, recognized by the Treaty of Lausanne. |
| 1938 | Atatürk dies. |
| 1945 | Turkey joins the Allied side in the concluding months of World War II. |
| 1952 | Turkey becomes a member of NATO. |
| 1960 | The military takes control of the government. |
| 1961 | Civilian rule is restored. |
| 1970s | Period of political instability and economic difficulties. |
| 1974 | Turkey invades Cyprus. |
| 1980 | The military again seizes power. |
| 1983 | The military organizes new elections; Kenan Evran is elected president. |
| 1989 | Turgut Özal is elected president. |
| 1993 | Death of Özal, Suleyman Demirel takes over the presidency; Tansu Ciller becomes Prime Minister. |
| 1995 | Clashes between Turkish soldiers and Kurdish insurgents in Northern Iraq. Islamic leader Necmettin Erbakan's Welfare Party (RP) wins parliamentary elections, yet is unable to form a government; Ciller creates a center-right coalition which soon falls. |
| 1996 | Erbakan forms a viable coalition. |
| 1997 | Tension over the role of religion in public life leads to the military's dismissal of Erbakan's Islamic-led government in April. |
| 1998 | Despite public protests, the new Prime Minister, Mesut Yilmaz, has sought to curb religions education and promote more secular traditions. Yilmaz plans to resign at the end of the 1998 and hold early elections in April 1999. |
| 1999 | Bulent Ecent is elected Prime Minister |
| 2000 | Ahmet Necdet Sezer takes over from Suleyman Demirel as president. |
| 2001 | Parliament votes for 34 changes to the constitution, to allow the abolition of capital punishment except in times of war and for acts of terrorism, and Kurdish broadcasting. The reforms aim to improve Turkey's chances of joining the EU. |
| 2002 | The Justice and Development Party secures a landslide victory at the polls. The Islamist-based party promises to adhere to secular principles of the constitution. Its deputy leader Abdullah Gul is appointed prime minister. |
Culture Tips
- When greeting friends or strangers in Turkey, it is polite to shake hands (firmly) and to inquire about family, health, and work. Among close friends, it is also common to kiss one another on each cheek.
- Social courtesies are common and appreciated in Turkey. Such courtesies include: not putting your feet on a desk or table, not pointing the sole of your foot toward another person, not smoking unless asking your host if it is acceptable, and not crossing your legs while in the presence of an older person or of a superior. In some areas, it is considered rude to pass an item with the left hand.
- Hand gestures are common during conversations, and are used to add emphasis and meaning.
- Turks enjoy visiting one another at their homes. This practice is an integral part of Turkish culture. In small communities, visits are often unexpected. However, in larger cities, it is practical to call ahead before visiting.
- Upon entering a Turkish home, guests remove their shoes and put on a pair of slippers that are provided by the hosts.
- Guests are served refreshments, usually tea, coffee, or soda, and snacks (crackers and cookies). Refusing these refreshments is considered impolite.
- Remember, it is not polite to ask your host personal questions nor is it polite to discuss bad news or problems when visiting a home. Visitors are expected to bring pleasant presence to the home, and therefore, these problems should be saved for other occasions.
- Dinner is the largest meal of the day in Turkey, and is usually served around 7 p.m. During dinner, it is common for families to sit down together. Breakfast is served around 7 a.m., and lunch is at midday.
- At the beginning or the end of a meal, it is common to say Afiyet Olsun ("May what you eat bring you well-being"). And, it is customary to complement the cook by saying Elinize saglik ("Bless your hand").
- If you invite guests to a restaurant for a meal you will be expected to pick up the check (it may be tough to pay even if you do offer an invitation!). Also, a 10% service charge (5% of which is the tip) is usually added into the restaurant bill. If the service charge is not included, a 15% tip should be given. The most common restaurants in Turkey are kebab restaurants.
- Although eating habits and food choices vary within the region, continental style eating (fork in the left hand and knife in the right) is usually observed by most Turks.
Links
The following sites provide additional information about Turkey
http://www.turkishembassy.org/start.html
http://www.turkey.com/
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tu.html
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