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==='''"Records"''' prove that ''']''' are '''"Native"''' in the ]:===
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{featured article}}<!--
Notice: This overview article is already too long and should serve only as an introduction for Turkey. To keep this overview article concise, please consider adding information instead to one of the many "main" articles about Turkey linked from this article, e.g., ], ], etc. Thank you.
-->
{{dablink|This article is about the country known as "Turkey". For the bird, see ]. For other uses of "Turkey", see ]. See also ].}}
{{Infobox Country or territory
|native_name = ''Türkiye Cumhuriyeti''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Turkey
|common_name = Turkey
|national_motto = none<br/><small>(Unofficial: "Yurtta Barış, Dünyada Barış"<sup>1</sup><br/>"Peace at Home, Peace in the World")</small>
|national_anthem = '']''<br/><small>''Independence March''</small>
|image_flag = Flag of Turkey.svg
|image_coat = Türkiye arması.svg
|symbol_type = Coat of arms
|image_map = Europe location TUR2.png
|capital = ]
|latd=39 |latm=55'48.00 |latNS=N |longd=32 |longm=50 |longEW=E
|largest_city = ]
<!--Currently only one set of coordinates implemented: |latd=41 |latm=1 |latNS=N |longd=28 |longm=57 |longEW=E-->
|official_languages = ]
|government_type = ] ]
|leader_title1 = ]
|leader_name1 = ]
|leader_title2 = ]
|leader_name2 = ]
|sovereignty_type = ]
|sovereignty_note = {{nowrap|to the ]<sup>2</sup>}}
|established_event1 = {{nowrap|]}}
|established_date1 = ] ]
|established_event2 = {{nowrap|]}}
|established_date2 = ] ]
|established_event3 = {{nowrap|Declaration of Republic}}
|established_date3 = ] ]
|area = 783,562 <!--http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/DYB2003/Table03.pdf UN statistics, page 7 (PDF format) -->
|areami² = 302,535 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
|area_rank = 37th
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|percent_water = 1.3
|population_estimate = 72,600,000 <!--http://www.worldbank.org.tr/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/TURKEYEXTN/0,,menuPK:361738~pagePK:141132~piPK:141109~theSitePK:361712,00.html-->
|population_estimate_year = 2005
|population_estimate_rank = 17th<sup>3</sup>
|population_census = 67,803,927 <!--Ibid-->
|population_census_year = 2000
|population_density = 93 <!--http://esa.un.org/unpp/ Figures for 2005-->
|population_densitymi² = 240 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
|population_density_rank = 102nd<sup>3</sup>
|GDP_PPP_year = 2006
|GDP_PPP = $612.3 billion <!--http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2006/01/data/dbcoutm.cfm?SD=2006&ED=2006&R1=1&R2=1&CS=3&SS=2&OS=C&DD=0&OUT=1&C=941-914-946-137-962-122-181-124-963-138-918-964-182-968-960-423-935-128-965-936-961-939-184-172-132-134-174-144-944-186-178-136-112&S=PPPWGT&CMP=0&x=59&y=11-->
|GDP_PPP_rank = 17th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $8,385 <!--2006 IMF-->
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 75th
|HDI_year = 2006
|HDI = 0.757<sup>4</sup>
|HDI_rank = 92nd<sup>4</sup>
|HDI_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font>
|Gini = 43.6
|Gini_year = 2003
|Gini_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font>
|currency = ]<sup>5</sup>
|currency_code = TRY
|time_zone = EET
|utc_offset = +2
|time_zone_DST = EEST
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|cctld = ]
|calling_code = 90
|footnote1 = ''"Yurtta sulh, cihanda sulh"'' (original Turkish).
|footnote2 = ] (1923).
|footnote3 = Population and population density rankings based on 2005 figures.
|footnote4 =
|footnote5 = The ] (''Yeni Türk Lirası'', YTL) replaced the old ] on ] ].<br/>
<br/><div style="position:relative; right:8px; font-size:120%;">{{External Timeline|Template:Timeline of History of the Republic of Turkey|History of the Republic of Turkey}}</div>
}}
'''Turkey''' ({{lang-tr|Türkiye}}), known officially as the '''Republic of Turkey''' <span style="white-space:nowrap;">({{Audio|asd.ogg|''Türkiye Cumhuriyeti''}})</span>, is a ]n ] that stretches across the ]n peninsula in ] and the ] region of southeastern ]. Turkey borders eight countries: ] to the northwest, ] to the west, ] to the northeast, ], ] (the ] ]), and ] to the east, ] and ] to the southeast. It borders the ] to the south, the ] to the west, and the ] to the north. Turkey also contains the ], which is used by geographers to mark the border between Europe and ], thus making Turkey ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sabanciuniv.edu/socrates/ects/go.php?page=turkey_geography |title=Geography of Turkey|author=Sabancı University |authorlink=Sabancı University |publisher=Sabancı University |accessdate=2006-12-13|date=2005}}</ref>


]
The region comprising modern Turkey has overseen the birth of major civilizations such as the ] and ]s. Because of its strategic location, where two continents meet, ] has a unique blend of ] and ] tradition, often described as a bridge between the two civilizations. A powerful regional presence from the ] to ] in the Eurasian landmass between ] and ], Turkey has come to acquire increasing strategic significance.<ref name= "Atatürk" /><ref name= "Ottoman_Turkey" />


{{cquote|] of ] (''']''') mentions the people of "'''Ermenen'''" paying tribute when he held his court at Ninevah, and says that in their land "'''heaven rests upon its four pillars.'''" <ref>Eric H. Cline and David O'Connor "Thutmose III", University of Michigan, 2006</ref> (note: Thutmose III was the first Pharaoh to cross the Euphrates to reach the ])}}
Turkey is a ], ], unitary, ] whose ] was established in 1923 under the leadership of ], following the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of ]. Since then, Turkey has become increasingly integrated with the West while continuing to foster relations with the Eastern world. It is a founding member of the ],<ref name= "Turkey_UN">{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/Overview/growth.htm |title=Growth in United Nations membership (1945–2005)|author=United Nations|authorlink=United Nations|publisher=United Nations|accessdate=2006-10-30|date=2006-07-03}}</ref> the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oic-oci.org/english/main/member-States.htm |title=OIC Membership|author=Organisation of the Islamic Conference|authorlink=Organisation of the Islamic Conference|publisher=OIC|accessdate=2006-10-30|date=2006}}</ref> the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/48/0,2340,en_2649_201185_1876912_1_1_1_1,00.html |title=OECD membership|author=OECD|authorlink=OECD|publisher=OECD|accessdate=2006-10-30|date=2006}}</ref> and the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osce.org/about/13131.html#T |title=OSCE Participating states|author=Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|authorlink=Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|publisher=OSCE|accessdate=2006-10-30|date=2005}}</ref> a member state of the ] since 1949,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coe.int/T/E/Com/About_Coe/Member_states/e_tu.asp#TopOfPage |title=Turkey and the Council of Europe|author=Council of Europe|authorlink=Council of Europe|publisher=Council of Europe|accessdate=2006-10-30|date=2006-10-27}}</ref> and of ] since 1952.<ref name="TR_NATO">{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/multi/photos/1952/m520218a.htm |title=Greece and Turkey accede to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation|author=NATO|authorlink=NATO|publisher=NATO|accessdate=2006-10-30|date=}}</ref> Since 2005, Turkey has been in accession negotiations with the ], having been an associate member since 1963.<ref name="TR_EUChrono">{{cite web|url=http://www.abgs.gov.tr/en/tur-eu_relations_dosyalar/chronology.htm |title=Chronology of Turkey-EU relations|author=Turkish Secretariat of European Union Affairs|authorlink=|publisher=Turkish Secretariat of European Union Affairs|accessdate=2006-10-30|date=}}</ref> Turkey is also a member of the ], which brings together the 20 largest ] of the world.
==Etymology==
{{Main|Name of Turkey}}
The name for Turkey in the ], ''Türkiye'', can be divided into two words: ''Türk'', which means "strong" in ] and usually signifying the inhabitants of Turkey or a member of the ] or ] peoples,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bartleby.com/61/92/T0419200.html |title=The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition - "Turk"|author=American Heritage Dictionary|authorlink=American Heritage Dictionary|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company|accessdate=2006-12-27|date=2000}}</ref> a later form of ''"tu-kin"'', name given by the ] to the people living south of the ] of ] as early as 177 BC;<ref name="TurkEtymology">{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Turk |title=Online Etymology Dictionary - "Turk"|author=Douglas Harper|authorlink=|publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary|accessdate=2006-12-27|date=2001}}</ref> and the ] ''-iye'', which means "owner" or "related to". The first recorded use of the term "Türk" or "Türük" as an ] is contained in the ] of the ] (''Sky Turks'') of Central Asia (c. 8th century CE). The English word "Turkey" is derived from the ] ''"Turchia"'' (c. 1369).<ref name="TurkEtymology" />
==History==


(note: ''']''' refer to ] by this form '''Ermeni''')
===Pre-Turkic History of Anatolia===
{{Main|History of Anatolia}}
], identified as the site of the ] (ca. 1200 BCE)]]
The Anatolian peninsula (also called Asia Minor), comprising most of modern Turkey, is one of the oldest continually inhabited regions in the world due to its location at the intersection of Asia and Europe. The earliest ] settlements such as ] (Pottery Neolithic), ] (] to Pottery Neolithic), ] (]), ] (Pottery Neolithic), ] (Pre-Pottery Neolithic A) and ] are considered to be among the earliest human settlements in the world.<ref name="AnatoliaNeolithic">{{cite paper|url=http://www.canew.org/files/Thissen%20lecture.pdf|title=Time trajectories for the Neolithic of Central Anatolia|author=Thissen, Laurens|publisher=CANeW - Central Anatolian Neolithic e-Workshop|format=]|accessdate=2006-12-21|date=2001-11-23}}</ref> The settlement of ] starts in the Neolithic and continues into the ]. Through recorded history, Anatolians have spoken ], ] and ] languages, as well as many languages of uncertain affiliation. In fact, given the antiquity of the Indo-European ] and ] languages, some scholars have proposed Anatolia as the hypothetical center from which the Indo-European languages have radiated.<ref name="AnatoliaIndoEuropean">{{cite journal|last=Balter|first=Michael|title=Search for the Indo-Europeans: Were Kurgan horsemen or Anatolian farmers responsible for creating and spreading the world's most far-flung language family?|journal=]|volume=303|issue=5662|pages=1323|date=2004-02-27}}</ref>
] in ], dating from 135 CE]]
The first major empire in the area was that of the ], from the 18th through the 13th century BCE. Subsequently, the ]ns, an Indo-European people, achieved ascendancy until their kingdom was destroyed by the ] in the 7th century BCE.<ref name="TroyHittiteEmpirePhrygians">{{cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/03/waa/ht03waa.htm|title=Anatolia and the Caucasus (Asia Minor), 2000 – 1000 B.C. in ''Timeline of Art History.''|author=The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York|authorlink=Metropolitan Museum of Art|publisher=New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art|accessdate=2006-12-21|date=October 2000}}</ref> The most powerful of Phrygia's successor states were ], ] and ]. The Lydians and Lycians spoke languages that were fundamentally Indo-European, but both languages had acquired non-Indo-European elements prior to the Hittite and ] periods.


{{cquote|] name '''Armin''' <ref> http://www.avesta.org/znames.htm</ref> means dweller of the ] (Persians used this form '''Armin'''a for ])}}
Western Anatolia, was meanwhile settled by the ], one of the ]. The entire area was conquered by the Persian ] during the 6th and 5th centuries and later fell to ] in 334 BCE.<ref name="PersiansInAsiaMinor">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/PERSIAN.HTM|title=Ancient Greece: The Persian Wars|author=Hooker, Richard|publisher=Washington State University, WA, United States|accessdate=2006-12-22|date=1999-06-06}}</ref> Anatolia was subsequently divided into a number of small ] (including ], ], ], and ]), all of which had succumbed to ] by the mid-1st century BCE.<ref name="AlexanderToRome">{{cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/04/waa/ht04waa.htm|title=Anatolia and the Caucasus (Asia Minor), 1000 B.C. - 1 A.D. in ''Timeline of Art History.''|author=The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York|authorlink=Metropolitan Museum of Art|publisher=New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art|accessdate=2006-12-21|date=October 2000}}</ref> In 324 CE, the Roman emperor ] chose ] to be the new capital of the Roman Empire, renaming it ] (later ] and ]). After the fall of the ], it became the capital of the ] (Eastern Roman Empire).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/cities/turkey/istanbul/istanbul.html |title=Constantinople/Istanbul|author=Daniel C. Waugh |authorlink=|publisher=University of Washington, Seattle, WA|accessdate=2006-12-26|date=2004}}</ref>

===Turks and the Ottoman Empire===
{{main|Turkic migration|History of the Turkish people|Seljuk Empire|Ottoman Empire}}
]

The ''House of Seljuk'' was a branch of the ''Kinik'' ] who in the ] resided on the periphery of the ], north of the ] and ]s in the Yabghu ]ate of the Oğuz confederacy.<ref>{{cite book|title=Al Hind: The Making of the Indo Islamic World, Vol. 1, Early Medieval India and the Expansion of Islam, 7th-11th Centuries|first=Andre|last=Wink|publisher=Brill Academic Publishers|location=|year=1990|id=ISBN 90-04-09249-8}}</ref> In the 10th century, the Seljuks migrated from their ancestral homelands into the eastern Anatolian regions that had been an area of settlement for Oğuz Turkic tribes since the end of the first millennium.<!--The 10th century ''was'' the end of the first millennium; clarify.-->

] (Blue Mosque) is one of the most famous ] of the Ottoman Empire.]]

Following their victory over the Byzantine Empire in the ] in 1071, the Turks began to abandon their nomadic roots in favour of a permanent role in Anatolia, bringing rise to the Seljuk Empire.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Oxford History of Byzantium|first=Cyril|last=Mango|publisher=Oxford University Press, USA|location=|year=2002|id=ISBN 0-1981-4098-3}}</ref> In 1243, the Seljuk armies were defeated by the ] and the power of the empire slowly disintegrated. In its wake, one of the Turkish principalities governed by ] was to evolve into the Ottoman Empire, thus filling the void left by the collapsed Seljuks and ].<ref name="Ottomans">{{cite book|title=The Ottoman Centuries: The Rise and Fall of the Turkish Empire|first=Patrick|last=Kinross|publisher=Morrow|location=|year=1977|id=ISBN 0-6880-3093-9}}</ref>

The Ottoman Empire interacted with both ] and ] cultures throughout its 623-year history. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was among the world's most powerful political entities, often locking horns with the powers of eastern Europe in its steady advance through the ] and the southern part of the ].<ref name= "Ottoman_Turkey">{{cite book|title=History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey|first=Stanford|last=Jay Shaw|coauthors=Kural Shaw, Ezel|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=|year=1977|id=ISBN 0-5212-9163-1}}</ref> Following ], the Ottoman Empire entered ] through the ] in 1914, and was ultimately defeated. After the war, the victorious ] sought the ] through the ].<ref name="Ottomans" />

===Republican era===
{{Main|History of the Republic of Turkey|Atatürk's reforms}}
] - Founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey]]

The ] and ] by the Allies in the aftermath of World War I prompted the ].<ref name= "Ottoman_Turkey" /> Under the leadership of ] ], a military commander who had distinguished himself during the ], the ] was waged with the aim of revoking the terms of the Treaty of Sèvres.<ref name= "Atatürk">{{cite book|title=Ataturk|first=Andrew|last=Mango|publisher=Overlook|location=|year=2000|id=ISBN 1-5856-7011-1}}</ref> By ] ], the occupying armies were repelled and the country saw the birth of the new Turkish state. On ], the ] formally abolished the ]ate, thus ending 623 years of Ottoman rule. The ] of 1923 led to the international recognition of the sovereignty of the newly formed "Republic of Turkey" as the ] of the Ottoman Empire, and the republic was officially proclaimed on ] ], in the new capital of ].<ref name= "Ottoman_Turkey" />

Mustafa Kemal became the republic's first ] and subsequently introduced ] with the aim of founding a new secular republic from the remnants of its Ottoman past.<ref name= "Ottoman_Turkey" /> According to the Law on Family Names, the Turkish parliament presented Mustafa Kemal with the honorific name "Atatürk" (''Father of the Turks'') in 1934.<ref name= "Atatürk" />

Turkey entered ] on the side of the ] on ], ] as a ceremonial gesture and became a charter member of the United Nations in 1945.<ref name= "Turkey_UN" /> Difficulties faced by ] after the war in quelling a ], along with demands by the ] for military bases in the ], prompted the ] to declare the ] in 1947. The doctrine enunciated American intentions to guarantee the security of Turkey and Greece, and resulted in large-scale US military and economic support.<ref name= "Truman Doctrine">{{cite book|title=Outposts and Allies: U.S. Army Logistics in the Cold War, 1945-1953|first=James A.|last=Huston|publisher=Susquehanna University Press|location=|year=1988|id=ISBN 0-9416-6484-8|url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0941664848&id=ID4E3Lm8TsgC&pg=PA198&lpg=PA198&ots=Yg9KqG871J&dq=turkey+cold+war&sig=d5Xry3n-9lmlUZTnM6tpFBBtxOQ#PPA177,M1}}</ref>

After participating with United Nations forces in the ], Turkey joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1952, becoming a bulwark against Soviet expansion into the ]. Following a decade of ] on the island of ] and the subsequent Athens-inspired ], Turkey ] in 1974. Nine years later ] (TRNC) was established. TRNC is recognised only by Turkey.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1021835.stm |title=Timeline: Cyprus|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-25|date=2006-12-12}}</ref>

Following the end of the ] in 1945, the ] witnessed tensions over the following decades, and the period between the 1960s and the 1980s was particularly marked by ] that resulted in a number of military ] ], ], ] and a ].<ref name="TRPoliticsandMilitary" /> The liberalization of the Turkish economy that started in the 1980s changed the landscape of the country, with successive periods of high growth and crises punctuating the following decades.<ref name="80sLiberalization" />

==Government and politics==
{{Main|Politics of Turkey|Constitution of Turkey|Elections in Turkey}}

]

<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series, this is just an overview-->
Turkey is a ] ]. Since its foundation as a republic in 1923, Turkey has developed a strong tradition of ].<ref name="TR_Secularism">{{cite book|title=Religion and Politics in Turkey|first=Ali|last=Çarkoǧlu|publisher=Routledge (UK)|location=|year=2004|id=ISBN 0-4153-4831-5|url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0415348315&id=t5G_zw9exMQC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=nBltWxHPjd&dq=Religion+in+Turkey&sig=gLF9WOvOo0qZO5iwyUQSUc26Ya0#PPA28,M1 }}</ref> ] governs the legal framework of the country. It sets out the main principles of government and establishes Turkey as a unitary centralized state. The current constitution was ratified by referendum in 1982 and has been amended numerous times in recent years.<ref name="TR_Constit">{{cite web|url=http://www.byegm.gov.tr/mevzuat/anayasa/anayasa-ing.htm |title=Turkish Constitution|author=Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information|authorlink=|publisher=Turkish Prime Minister's Office|accessdate=2006-12-16|date=2001-10-17}}</ref>

<!--The reference at the end of the paragraph is for all the paragraph-->
The ] is the ] and has a largely ceremonial role. The president is elected for a seven-year term by the parliament but is not required to be one of its members. The current President, ], was elected on ] ], after having served as the President of the ]. ] is exercised by the ] and the Council of Ministers that make up the government, while the ] power is vested in the unicameral parliament, the ]. The ] is independent of the executive and the legislature, and the Constitutional Court is charged with ruling on the conformity of ] with the constitution. The ] is the tribunal of last resort for administrative cases, and the ] for all others.<ref name="TR_Constit" />

The Prime Minister is generally the head of the ] that has won the elections and is elected by the parliament through a vote of confidence in his government. The current Prime Minister is the former mayor of İstanbul, ], whose Islamic conservative ] won an absolute majority of parliamentary seats in the ], organized in the aftermath of the economic crisis of 2001, with 34% of the suffrage.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2392717.stm |title=Turkey's old guard routed in elections|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-14|date=2002-11-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1833730.stm |title=Analysis: Turkey's year of crisis|author=James Arnold|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-14|date=2002-02-21}}</ref> Neither the Prime Minister nor the Ministers have to be members of the parliament, but in most cases they are (one notable exception was ], who was the Minister of State in Charge of Economy following the financial crisis of 2001;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2184663.stm |title=Profile: Kemal Derviş|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-14|date=2002-08-12}}</ref> he is currently the president of the ]).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4489627.stm |title=UN post for Turkish ex-minister|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-14|date=2005-04-27}}</ref>

<!--The second reference in the paragraph is for all the sentences before it-->
There are 550 members of parliament who are elected for a five-year term by a ] system from 85 electoral districts which represent the 81 administrative ] (İstanbul is divided into three electoral districts whereas Ankara and ] are divided into two each because of their large populations). To avoid a ] and its excessive political fragmentation, only parties that win at least ] cast in a national parliamentary election gain the right to representation in the parliament. As a result of this threshold, only two parties were able to obtain that right during the last elections in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2399665.stm |title=Turkey leaps into the unknown|author=Roger Hardy|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-14|date=2002-11-04}}</ref> Independent candidates may run; however, they must also win at least 10% of the vote in their circonscription to be elected.<ref name="BYEGM_TrPolSys">{{cite web|url=http://www.byegm.gov.tr/REFERENCES/Structure.htm |title=Political Structure of Turkey|author=Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information|authorlink=|publisher=Turkish Prime Minister's Office|accessdate=2006-12-14|date=2004-08-24}}</ref> ] for both sexes has been applied throughout Turkey since 1933, and every Turkish citizen who has turned 18 years of age has the right to vote. As of 2004, there were 50 registered ], whose ideologies range from the ] to the ].<ref name="BYEGM_TrPolSys" /> The Constitutional Court can strip the public financing of political parties that it deems anti-secular or ], or ban their existence altogether.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1466160.stm |title=Euro court backs Turkey Islamist ban|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-14|date=2001-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2850601.stm |title=Turkey's Kurd party ban criticised|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-14|date=2003-03-14}}</ref>

<!--The first reference in the paragraph is for all the sentences before it-->
The military has traditionally been a politically powerful institution, considered as the guardians of Atatürk's Republic. The protection of the Turkish Constitution and the unity of the country is given by law to the ], and it therefore plays a formal political role via the ] (NSC) as the guardian of the secular, ] nature of the republic and the reforms of Atatürk.<ref name="TRPoliticsandMilitary">{{cite book|title=Turkish Politics and the Military|first=William Mathew|last=Hale|publisher=Routledge (UK)|location=|year=1994|id=ISBN 0-4150-2455-2}}</ref> Through the NSC, the ] contributes to recommendations for defense policy against any threat to the country, including those pertaining to ethnic separatism or religious extremism. In recent years, reforms led to efforts to reduce the military's constitutional responsibilities, under the program of compliance with EU demands and an increased civilian presence on the NSC.<ref name="TR_ArmySec">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6122878.stm |title=Turkish army keeps eye on politicians|author=Mark Mardell|authorlink=Mark Mardell|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-16|date=2006-11-07}}</ref> Despite its influence in civilian affairs and possibly because of it, the military owns strong unequivocal support from the nation and is considered to be the country's most trusted institution.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Aydınlı|first=Ersel|coauthors=Nihat Ali Özcan and Dogan Akyaz|title=The Turkish Military's March Toward Europe|url=http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20060101faessay85108/ersel-aydinli-nihat-ali-ozcan-dogan-akyaz/the-turkish-military-s-march-toward-europe.html|journal=Foreign Affairs|issue=Jan/Feb|year=2006}}</ref>

==Foreign relations==
], ] and ] at the ] in December 1943]]

{{Main|Foreign relations of Turkey|Accession of Turkey to the European Union}}

Turkey's main political, economic and military relations have remained rooted within the West since the foundation of the republic and its membership to ] in 1952.<ref name= "Truman Doctrine" /> Ankara became a crucial strategic ally in diverting Soviet forces from Central Europe and preventing their expansion into the Mediterranean. Though primarily a Western orientated actor in international affairs, Turkey also fostered relations with the Middle East, becoming the only NATO member of the ], as well as forging close relations with ]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1480376.stm |title=Israel and Turkey: An intriguing alliance|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-17|date=2001-08-08}}</ref>

The ] remains Turkey's biggest trading partner, and the presence of a well-established ] in Europe has contributed to the development of extensive relations between the two over the years. Turkey became a member of the ] in 1949, applied for associate membership of the ] (predecessor of the EU) in 1959 and became an associate member in 1963. After decades of political negotiations, Turkey applied for full membership of the EEC in 1987, reached a ] with the EU in 1995 and has officially begun ] on ] ].<ref name="TR_EUChrono" /> It is believed that the accession process will take at least 15 years because of Turkey's size and the depth of disagreements over certain issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/pdf/interview_20061015_en.pdf |title=Interview with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on BBC Sunday AM|author=European Commission|authorlink=European Commission|publisher=European Commission|format=PDF|accessdate=2006-12-17|date=2006-10-15}}</ref>

Historically, ] have known periods of tension. The long divided island of ] and the disputes over the air and sea boundaries of the Aegean Sea remain the ] between the two neighbours.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5010736.stm |title=Greece, Turkey defuse crash row|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-17|date=2006-05-23}}</ref> Recently, the ] has become one of the main points of contention in Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU since Turkey is refusing to open its ports to ] traffic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6170749.stm |title=Turkey's EU membership bid stalls|author=Mark Mardell|authorlink=Mark Mardell|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-17|date=2006-12-11}}</ref> Nonetheless, following the consecutive ] in Turkey and Greece, and ] teams from both sides, the two nations have entered a much more positive period in their relations, with Greece actively supporting Turkey's candidacy to enter the European Union.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100004_16/12/2006_77862 |title=Greece backs EU on Turkey, Balkan states|author=|authorlink=|work=Kathimerini Online Edition|accessdate=2006-12-17|date=2006-12-16}}</ref>

Since the end of the ], Turkey has been actively building relations with former ] countries in ] and ], leading to many reciprocal investments and migratory currents between these states and Turkey.<ref>{{cite book|title=Turkish Foreign Policy In Post Cold War Era|first=Idris|last=Bal|publisher=Universal Publishers|location=|year=2004|id=ISBN 1-5811-2423-6|url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1581124236&id=vDzjkrTDKjYC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=5PdqmRoyEn&dq=turkey+cold+war&sig=XoCrRT0pN70sZn6zvtnpdBF0HWw#PRA1-PA291,M1 }}</ref> However, Turkey's relations with neighbouring ] are still tense due to the ongoing stalemate in ] between Armenia and ], a ] neighbour and ally of Turkey, and also due to the controversy surrounding the ], in which actions by the Ottoman ] led to the forced mass evacuation and related deaths of an estimated hundreds of thousands up to 1.5 million ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/5102564.stm |title=Fears of Turkey's 'invisible' Armenians|author=Sarah Rainsford|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-30|date=2006-06-22}}</ref> The Turkish government rejects the notion that these events constituted a ], and instead states the deaths, in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, were a result of inter-ethnic strife, disease and ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6045182.stm |title=Q&A Armenian 'genocide'|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-29|date=2006-10-12}}</ref> Owing to its secular traditions, Turkey has always viewed suspiciously certain countries in the region and this has caused tensions in the past, particularly ].<ref name="TR_Iran">{{cite web|url=http://www.saag.org/papers11/paper1077.html |title=Turkey and Iran coming closer|author=K. Gajendra Singh |authorlink=|publisher=South Asia Analysis Group|accessdate=2006-12-17|date=2004-08-03}}</ref>

Even though Turkey participated in the NATO-led ] in ] after ], the ] faced strong domestic opposition in Turkey. A government motion which would have allowed U.S. troops to attack ] from Turkey's southeastern border couldn't reach the absolute majority of 276 votes needed for its adoption in the Turkish Parliament, the final tally being 264 votes for and 250 against.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/854861/posts |title=Turkish Parliament Rejects U.S. Plan to Send 62,000 Combat Troops to Turkey for Iraq War|author=Louis Meixler, Associated Press writer|authorlink=|work=Free Republic|accessdate=2006-12-24|date=2003-03-01}}</ref> This led to a cooling in relations ] and fears that they may be damaged as a result of the situation in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/TurkeyCSR.pdf |title=Generating Momentum for a New Era in U.S.-Turkey Relations|author=Steven A. Cook|coauthors=Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall|authorlink=|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations|format=PDF|accessdate=2006-12-17|date=2006-06-15}}</ref> Turkey is particularly cautious about an independent ] arising from a destabilised Iraq; it has previously fought an insurgent war on its own soil, in which an estimated 37,000 people lost their lives, against the ] (listed as a ] organization by ], including the USA and the EU).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2887893.stm |title=Turkey's fears of Kurdish resurgence|author=Pam O'Toole|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-17|date=2003-03-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4690181.stm |title=PKK 'behind' Turkey resort bomb|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-17|date=2005-07-17}}</ref> This led the Turkish government to put pressure on the U.S. to clamp down on insurgent training camps in northern Iraq, without much success.<ref name="TR_Iran" />

==Military==
{{Main|Turkish Armed Forces|Conscription in Turkey}}
]-built ] fighter jets belonging to various ] squadrons]]
The ] consists of the ], the ] and the ]. The ] and the ] operate as parts of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in peacetime, although they are subordinated to the Army and Navy Commands respectively in wartime, during which they have both internal law enforcement and military functions.<ref name="TSK_Organisation">{{cite web|url=http://www.tsk.mil.tr/eng/genel_konular/savunmaorganizasyonu.htm |title=Turkish Armed Forces Defense Organization|author=Turkish General Staff|authorlink=Turkish Armed Forces|publisher=Turkish Armed Forces|accessdate=2006-12-15|date=2006}}</ref>

The ] is appointed by the President, and is responsible to the Prime Minister. The Council of Ministers is responsible to the parliament for matters of national security and the adequate preparation of the armed forces to defend the country. However, the authority to declare war and to deploy the Turkish Armed Forces to foreign countries or to allow foreign armed forces to be stationed in Turkey rests solely with the parliament.<ref name="TSK_Organisation" /> The actual Commander of the armed forces is the Chief of the General Staff ], who succeeded General ] on ] ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5294438.stm |title=Turkish general vows to rout PKK|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-08|date=2006-08-26}}</ref>

]'' is a ] (]) class frigate of the ]]]

The Turkish Armed Forces is the second largest standing ] in NATO, after the ], with a combined strength of 1,043,550 uniformed personnel serving in its five branches.<ref>Economist Intelligence Unit:Turkey, p.23 (2005)</ref><ref name="TR_ArmySec" /> Every fit heterosexual male Turkish citizen is required to serve in the military for time periods ranging from three weeks to fifteen months, depending on his education and job location (] have the right to be exempt, if they so request).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/home/RSDCOI/3c1622484.pdf |title=Turkey/Military service|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Directorate for Movements of Persons, Migration and Consular Affairs - Asylum and Migration Division|authorlink=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|publisher=UNHCR|format=PDF|accessdate=2006-12-27|date=July 2001}}</ref>

In 1998, Turkey announced a program of modernization worth some ]31 billion over a ten year period in various projects including ]s, ]s and ]s.<ref>Economist Intelligence Unit:Turkey, p.22 (2005)</ref> Turkey is also a Level 3 contributor to the ] (JSF) program, gaining an opportunity to develop and influence the creation of the next generation fighter spearheaded by the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=3417 |title=DoD, Turkey sign Joint Strike Fighter Agreement|author=US Department of Defense|authorlink=US Department of Defense|publisher=US Department of Defense|accessdate=2006-12-27|date=2002-07-11}}</ref>

Turkey has maintained forces in international missions under the United Nations and NATO since 1950, including ] missions, various missions in the former ], and support to coalition forces in the ]. Turkey maintains 36,000 troops in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and has had troops deployed in Afghanistan as part of the ] and the UN-authorized, NATO-commanded ] (ISAF) since 2001.<ref>Economist Intelligence Unit:Turkey, p.23 (2005)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsk.mil.tr/eng/uluslararasi/isaf_int/tarihce.htm |title=Brief History of ISAF|author=Turkish General Staff|authorlink=Turkish Armed Forces|publisher=Turkish Armed Forces|accessdate=2006-12-16|date=2006}}</ref> In 2006, the Turkish parliament deployed a peacekeeping force of Navy patrol vessels and around 700 ground troops as part of an expanded ] (UNIFIL) in the wake of the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6069126.stm |title=Turkish troops arrive in Lebanon|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-14|date=2006-10-20}}</ref>

==Administrative divisions==
{{main|Regions of Turkey|Provinces of Turkey|Districts of Turkey|List of cities in Turkey}}

<!-- The census figure cited at the end of the section covers all the numbers cited in this section -->
The ] of Turkey is ]. The territory of Turkey is subdivided into 81 provinces for administrative purposes. The provinces are organized into 7 ] for ] purposes; however, they do not represent an administrative structure. Each province is divided into districts, for a total of 923 districts.

Provinces usually bear the same name as their provincial capitals, also called the central district; exceptions to this are the provinces of ] (capital: ]), ] (capital: ]) and ] (capital: ]). Provinces with the largest populations are ] (+10 million), ] (+4 million), ] (+3.4 million), ] (+2.2 million), ] (+2.1 million) and ] (+1.85 million).

The biggest city and the pre-Republican capital ] is the financial, economic and cultural heart of the country.<ref name="USLC_TRGeo" /> Other important cities include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. An estimated 67% of Turkey's population live in urban centers.<ref name="WorldBank_Turkey_glance">{{cite web|author=World Bank|authorlink=World Bank|publisher=World Bank|url=http://devdata.worldbank.org/AAG/tur_aag.pdf |title=Turkey at a glance|format=PDF|accessdate=2006-12-10|date=2006-08-13}}</ref> In all, 12 cities have populations that exceed 500,000, and 48 cities have more than 100,000 inhabitants.

{{Turkey Labelled Map|float=right}}

'''Major cities:'''
* ] - 9,085,599
* ] - 3,540,522
* ] - 2,732,669
* ] - 1,630,940
* ] - 1,397,853
* ] - 1,294,817
* ] - 1,009,126
* ] - 936,330

''(Population figures are given according to the 2000 census)''<ref>{{cite web|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|authorlink=Turkish Statistical Institute|publisher=Turkish Statistical Institute|url=http://www.die.gov.tr/nufus_sayimi/2000tablo5.xls |title=2000 Census, population by provinces and districts|format=XLS|accessdate=2006-12-11|date = 2000}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
{{main|Geography of Turkey|Environmental issues in Turkey}}

] in the ], on the Mediterranean coastline]]

The territory of Turkey is more than 1,600&nbsp;]s (1,000&nbsp;]) long and 800&nbsp;km (500&nbsp;mi) wide, with a roughly rectangular shape.<ref name="USLC_TRGeo">{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/turkey/18.htm |title=Geography of Turkey|author=US Library of Congress|authorlink=US Library of Congress|publisher=US Library of Congress|accessdate=2006-12-13|date=}}</ref> Turkey's area, inclusive of lakes, occupies 779,452 ]s (300,948 ]), of which 755,688 square kilometres (291,773&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) are in ] and 23,764 square kilometres (9,174&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi) in ],<ref name="USLC_TRGeo" /> thus making Turkey a ]. Turkey's size makes it the world's ] country (after ]). It is somewhat bigger than ] or the U.S. state of ]. Turkey is encircled by seas on three sides: the ] to the west, the ] to the north and the ] to the south. Turkey also contains the ] in the northwest.<ref name="TRGeo_TRMinistryTourism" />

The European section of Turkey, in the northwest, is ], and forms the borders of Turkey with Greece and Bulgaria. The Asian part of the country, ] (also called Asia Minor), consists of a high central plateau with narrow coastal plains, in between the Köroğlu and East-Black Sea mountain range to the north and the ] to the south. Eastern Turkey has a more mountainous landscape, and is home to the sources of rivers such as the ], ] and ], and contains ] and ], Turkey's highest point at 5,165&nbsp;]s (16,946&nbsp;]).<ref name="TRGeo_TRMinistryTourism" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=4996 |title=Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı), Turkey|author=NASA - Earth Observatory|authorlink=NASA|publisher=NASA|accessdate=2006-12-27|date=2001}}</ref>

Turkey is geographically divided into seven regions: ], ], ], ], ], ] and the ]. The uneven north Anatolian terrain running along the Black Sea resembles a long, narrow belt. This region comprises approximately one-sixth of Turkey's total land area. As a general trend, the inland Anatolian plateau becomes increasingly rugged as it progresses eastward.<ref name="TRGeo_TRMinistryTourism">{{cite web|url=http://www.turizm.net/turkey/info/geography.html |title=Geography of Turkey|author=Turkish Ministry of Tourism|authorlink=|publisher=Turkish Ministry of Tourism|accessdate=2006-12-13|date=2005}}</ref>

]) and is located in the ] in the Eastern Anatolia region.]]

Turkey's varied landscapes are the product of complex earth movements that have shaped the region over thousands of years and still manifest themselves in fairly frequent ]s and occasional ] eruptions. The ] and the ] owe their existence to the ] running through Turkey that led to the creation of the Black Sea. There is an earthquake fault line across the north of the country from west to east, which caused ] in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usc.edu/dept/civil_eng/structural_lab/eq-rp/seismicity.html |title=Brief Seismic History of Turkey|author=|authorlink=|publisher=University of South California, Department of Civil Engineering|accessdate=2006-12-26|date=}}</ref>

The ] is a Mediterranean ], with hot, dry summers and mild, wet and cold winters, though conditions can be much harsher in the more arid interior. Mountains close to the coast prevent Mediterranean influences from extending inland, giving the interior of Turkey a continental climate with distinct seasons. The central Anatolian Plateau is much more subject to extremes than coastal areas. Winters on the plateau are especially severe. Temperatures of −30&nbsp;] to −40&nbsp;°C (−22&nbsp;°] to -40&nbsp;°F) can occur in the mountainous areas in the east, and snow may lie on the ground 120 days of the year. In the west, winter temperatures average below 1&nbsp;°C (34&nbsp;°F). Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures generally above 30&nbsp;°C (86&nbsp;°F) in the day. Annual ] averages about 400&nbsp;]s (15&nbsp;]), with actual amounts determined by elevation. The driest regions are the Konya plain and the Malatya plain, where annual rainfall frequently is less than 300&nbsp;millimetres (12&nbsp;in). May is generally the wettest month, whereas July and August are the most dry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meteor.gov.tr/2006/english/eng-climateofturkey.aspx |title=Climate of Turkey|author=Turkish State Meteorological Service|authorlink=Turkish State Meteorological Service|publisher=Turkish State Meteorological Service|accessdate=2006-12-27|date=2006}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Turkey|Economic history of Turkey}}

] financial district as seen from the Sporcular Park, Istanbul]]

For most of its republican history, Turkey has adhered to a quasi-] approach, with strict government controls over private sector participation, foreign trade, and ]. However, during the 1980s, Turkey began a series of reforms, initiated by Prime Minister ] and designed to shift the economy from a statist, insulated system to a more private-sector, ]-based model.<ref name="80sLiberalization">{{cite book|title=Economics and Politics of Turkish Liberalization|first=Tevfik F.|last=Nas|publisher=Lehigh University Press|location=|year=1992|id=ISBN 0-9342-2319-X}}</ref> The reforms spurred rapid growth, but this growth was punctuated by sharp ]s and financial crises in 1994, 1999 (following the earthquake of that year),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/422653.stm |title=Turkish quake hits shaky economy|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-12|date=1999-08-17}}</ref> and 2001,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1800869.stm |title='Worst over' for Turkey|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-12|date=2002-02-04}}</ref> resulting in an average of 4% ] growth per annum between 1981 and 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTTURKEY/Resources/361616-1144320150009/Labor_C2.pdf |title=Turkey Labor Market Study|author=World Bank|authorlink=World Bank|publisher=World Bank|format=PDF|accessdate=2006-12-10|date=2005}}</ref> Lack of additional reforms, combined with large and growing ] ]s and widespread ], resulted in high ], a weak ] sector and increased ] volatility.<ref>{{cite book|title=OECD Reviews of Regulatory Reform - Turkey: crucial support for economic recovery : 2002|first=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|last=|publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|location=|year=2002|id=ISBN 92-64-19808-3|url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9264198083&id=ufYU_fR7mLgC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=xxhe4iYB7B&dq=Turkey&sig=5WqjRxHbjn4ObFDJc_sQKuIB2sg#PPP1,M1}}</ref>

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Since the economic crisis of 2001 and the reforms initiated by the finance minister of the time, ], inflation has fallen to single-digit numbers, investor confidence and foreign investment have soared, and unemployment has fallen. Turkey has gradually opened up its markets through economic reforms by reducing government controls on foreign trade and investment and the ] of publicly-owned industries, and the liberalisation of many sectors to private and foreign participation has continued amid political debate.<ref name="TR_Eco">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6103008.stm |title=Robust economy raises Turkey's hopes|author=Jorn Madslien|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-12|date=2006-11-02}}</ref>

The GDP growth rate for 2005 was 7.4%,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.die.gov.tr/english/SONIST/GSMH/111206.doc |title=GNP and GDP as of September 2006|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|authorlink=Turkish Statistical Institute|publisher=Turkish Statistical Institute|format=DOC|accessdate=2006-12-11|date=2006-12-11}}</ref> thus making Turkey one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Turkey's GDP ranks 17th in the world, and Turkey is a member of ] which brings together the 20 largest economies of the globe. Turkey's economy is no longer dominated by traditional agricultural activities in the rural areas, but more so by a highly dynamic industrial complex in the major cities, mostly concentrated in the western provinces of the country, along with a developed services sector. The agricultural sector accounts for 11.9% of GDP, whereas industrial and service sectors make up 23.7% and 64.5%, respectively.<ref name="WorldBank_Turkey_glance" /> The tourism sector has experienced rapid growth in the last twenty years, and constitutes an important part of the economy. In 2005, there were 24,124,501 ] to the country, who contributed 18.2 billion USD to Turkey's revenues.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=3852067 |title=Tourism statistics for 2005|author=Anadolu Agency (AA)|authorlink=Anadolu Agency|work=Hürriyet|accessdate=2006-12-10|date=2006-01-27}}</ref> Other key sectors of the Turkish economy are construction, automotive industry, electronics and textiles.

]

In recent years, the chronically high inflation has been brought under control and this has led to the launch of a new currency to cement the acquis of the economic reforms and erase the vestiges of an unstable economy. On ] ], the ] was replaced by the ] by dropping off six zeroes (1 YTL= 1,000,000 TL).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4137469.stm |title=Turkey knocks six zeros off lira|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-11|date=2004-12-31}}</ref> As a result of continuing economic reforms, the inflation has dropped to 8.2% in 2005, and the unemployment rate to 10.3%.<ref name="WorldBank_TRStat">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbank.org.tr/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/TURKEYEXTN/0,,menuPK:361738~pagePK:141132~piPK:141109~theSitePK:361712,00.html |title=Data and Statistics for Turkey|author=World Bank|authorlink=World Bank|publisher=World Bank|accessdate=2006-12-10|date=2005}}</ref> With a per capita GDP (]) of 5,062 USD, Turkey ] in the world in 2005. In 2004, it was estimated that 46.2% of total disposable income was received by the top 20% income earners, whilst the lowest 20% received 6%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.die.gov.tr/ENGLISH/SONIST/GELIR/k_270206.xls |title=The result of Income Distribution|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|authorlink=Turkish Statistical Institute|publisher=Turkish Statistical Institute|accessdate=2006-12-11|date=2006-02-27}}</ref>

Turkey's main trading partners are the European Union (52% of exports and 42% of imports as of 2005),<ref name="TSI_ForeignTrade2006">{{cite web|url = http://www.die.gov.tr/ENGLISH/SONIST/DISTICIST/301106.doc |title=Foreign Trade Statistics as of October 2006|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|authorlink=Turkish Statistical Institute|publisher=Turkish Statistical Institute|accessdate=2006-12-11|date=2006-11-30}}</ref> the United States, ] and ]. Turkey has taken advantage of a ], signed in 1995, to increase its industrial production destined for exports, while at the same time benefiting from EU-origin foreign investment into the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2006/05/03/000016406_20060503112446/Rendered/PDF/wps3908.pdf |title=Turkey's evolving trade integration into Pan-European markets|author=Bartolomiej Kaminski|coauthors=Francis Ng|publisher=World Bank|accessdate=2006-12-27|date=2006-05-01}}</ref> In 2005, exports amounted to 73.5 billion USD while the imports stood at 116.8 billion USD, with increases of 16.3% and 19.7% compared to 2004, respectively.<ref name="TSI_ForeignTrade2006" /> For 2006, the exports amounted to 85.8 billion USD, representing an increase of 16,8% over 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/5706676.asp?m=1&gid=112&srid=3429&oid=5 |title=Exports for 2006 stand at 85.8 billion USD|author=Turkish Exporters Assembly|authorlink=|work=Hürriyet|accessdate=2007-01-01|date=2007-01-01}}</ref>

After years of low levels of ] (FDI), Turkey succeeded in attracting 8.5 billion USD in FDI in 2005 and is expected to attract a higher figure in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcmb.gov.tr/odemedenge/table26.pdf |title=Foreign Direct Investments in Turkey by sectors|author=Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey|authorlink=Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey|publisher=Central Bank of Turkey|accessdate=2006-12-12|date=2006}}</ref> A series of large privatizations, the stability fostered by the start of ], strong and stable growth, and structural changes in the banking, retail, and telecommunications sectors have all contributed to a rise in foreign investment.<ref name="TR_Eco" />

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Turkey|Turkish people|Immigration to Turkey|Religion in Turkey|Secularism in Turkey}}
] and the tram line running between ] and ]]]
As of 2005, the population of Turkey stood at 72.6 million with a growth rate of 1.5% per annum.<ref name="WorldBank_TRStat" /><ref name="WorldBank_Turkey_glance" /> The Turkish population is relatively young, with 25.5% falling within the 0-15 age bracket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intute.ac.uk/sciences/worldguide/html/1046_people.html |title=Turkey - Population and Demographics|author=Intute|authorlink=|publisher= Intute|accessdate= 2006-12-10|date=2006-07|}}</ref> According to statistics released by the government in 2005, ] stands at 68.9 years for men and 73.8 years for women, for an overall average of 71.3 years for the populace as a whole.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=5546229 |title=Life expectancy has increased in 2005 in Turkey|author=Anadolu Agency (AA)|authorlink=Anadolu Agency|work=Hürriyet|accessdate=2006-12-09|date=2006-12-03}}</ref>

] is compulsory and free from ages 6 to 15. The ] rate is 95.3% for men and 79.6% for women, for an overall average of 87.4%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nkg.die.gov.tr/en/goster.asp?aile=3 |title=Population and Development Indicators - Population and education|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|authorlink=Turkish Statistical Institute|publisher=Turkish Statistical Institute|accessdate=2006-12-11|date=2004-10-18}}</ref> This low figure is mainly due to prevailing feudal attitudes against women in the Arab- and Kurdish-inhabited southeastern provinces of the country.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3753582.stm |title=Turkish girls in literacy battle|author=Jonny Dymond|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-11|date=2004-10-18}}</ref>

<!-- The reference at the end of the paragraph is for the whole paragraph -->
Article 66 of the ] defines a "Turk" as anyone that is "bound to the Turkish state through the bond of ]"; therefore, the legal use of the term "Turkish" as a citizen of Turkey is different from the ethnic definition. However, the majority of the Turkish population are of ]. Other major ethnic groups include the ], ], ], ] and the three officially-recognized minorities (per the treaty of Lausanne) of ], ] and ]. The largest non-Turkic ethnicity is the ], a distinct ethnic group traditionally concentrated in the southeast of the country. Minorities other than the three official ones do not have any special group privileges, and while the term "]" itself remains a sensitive issue in Turkey, it is to be noted that the degree of ] within various ]s outside the recognized minorities is high, with the following generations adding to the ] of the Turkish main body. Within that main body, certain distinctions based on diverse ] origins could be made as well. Reliable data on the exact ethnic repartition of the population is not available, as the Turkish census figures do not include ethnic or racial figures.<ref name="Turkey_Ethnic_groups">{{cite book|title=The other languages of Europe: Demographic, Sociolinguistic and Educational Perspectives|first=Guus|last=Extra|coauthors=Gorter, Durk|publisher=Multilingual Matters|location=|year=2001|id=ISBN 1-8535-9509-8|url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1853595098&id=hvmy_skUPNYC&pg=RA1-PA422&lpg=RA1-PA422&ots=2bxjbJbuzM&dq=%22ethnic+groups+in+turkey%22&sig=gsODCAuvT1TRupKgZBsVDZf-oDE#PRA1-PA421,M1}}</ref>

]

Due to a demand for an increased labour force in post-World War II Europe, many Turkish citizens emigrated to ] (particularly ]), contributing to the creation of a ]. Recently, Turkey has also become a destination for numerous immigrants, especially since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the consequent increase of freedom of movement in the region. These immigrants generally migrate from the former Soviet Bloc countries, as well as neighbouring Muslim states, either to settle and work in Turkey or to continue their journey towards the European Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=176 |title=Turkey: A Transformation from Emigration to Immigration|author=Kemal Kirisci|authorlink=|publisher=Center for European Studies, Bogaziçi University|accessdate=2006-12-26|date=November 2003}}</ref>

] perform at the Mevlevi Museum in Konya, Central Anatolia region.]]

] is the sole ] throughout Turkey. Reliable figures for the linguistic repartition of the populace are not available for reasons similar to those cited above.<ref name="Turkey_Ethnic_groups" /> Nevertheless, the public broadcaster ] broadcasts programmes in local languages and dialects of ], ], ] and ] a few hours a week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.byegm.gov.tr/REFERENCES/radyo-tv2002.htm |title=Historical background of radio and television broadcasting in Turkey|author=Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information|authorlink=|publisher=Turkish Prime Minister's Office|accessdate=2006-08-10|date=2003}}</ref>

<!-- The reference at the end of the paragraph is also for the 99 percent figure at the beginning of the paragraph-->
Nominally, 99.0% of the Turkish population is ], of whom a majority belong to the ] branch of Islam. A sizeable minority of the population is affiliated with the ] sect.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Alevis in Turkey: The Emergence of a Secular Islamic Tradition|first=David|last=Shankland|publisher=Routledge (UK)|location=|year=2003|id=ISBN 0-7007-1606-8|url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0700716068&id=lFFRzTqLp6AC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&dq=Religion+in+Turkey&sig=qrG576JrBxJ4LIBqD-41ALytcAI#PPP1,M1 }}</ref> The mainstream ] school of ] is largely organised by the state, through the '']'' (Religious Affairs Directorate), which controls all ]s and Muslim clerics. The remainder of the population belongs to other beliefs, particularly ] denominations (], ], ]), ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unfpa.org.tr/countryinfo.htm |title=Turkey - A Brief Profile|author=United Nations Population Fund|authorlink=United Nations Population Fund|publisher=United Nations Population Fund|accessdate=2006-12-27|date=2006}}</ref>

<!-- The first reference in the paragraph is for all the sentences before it-->
There is a strong tradition of ]. Even though the state has no official religion nor promotes any, it actively monitors the area between the religions. The constitution recognises ] for individuals, whereas religious communities are placed under the protection of the state; but the constitution explicitly states that they cannot become involved in the political process (by forming a religious party, for instance) or establish faith-based schools. No party can claim that it represents a form of religious belief; nevertheless, religious sensibilities are generally represented through conservative parties.<ref name="TR_Secularism" /> Turkey prohibits by law the wearing of ] and theo-political symbolic garments for both genders in government buildings, schools, and universities;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5414098.stm |title=The Islamic veil across Europe|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-13|date=2006-11-17}}</ref> the law was upheld by the Grand Chamber of the ] as "legitimate" in '']'' on ] ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?item=3&portal=hbkm&action=html&highlight=Sahin%20%7C%20Turkey&sessionid=11294215&skin=hudoc-en |title=Leyla Şahin v. Turkey|author=European Court of Human Rights|authorlink=European Court of Human Rights|publisher=ECHR|accessdate=2006-11-30|date=2005-11-10}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Turkey|Arts in Turkey|Sports in Turkey|Turkish literature|Ottoman architecture}}

], winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Literature]]
] (1881&ndash;1937)]]

Turkey has a very diverse culture that is a blend of various elements of the ] and ], ] (which was itself a continuation of both ] and ] cultures), and ] culture and traditions which started with the ] of the Ottoman Empire and continues today. This mix is a result of the encounter of Turks and their culture with those of the peoples who were in their path during ] from Central Asia to the West.<ref name="TR_culture" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turks.org.uk/index.php?pid=8 |title=Turks - A Journey of a Thousand Years: 600 - 1600|author=Royal Academy of Arts|authorlink=Royal Academy of Arts|publisher=Royal Academy of Arts|accessdate=2006-12-12|date=2005}}</ref> As Turkey successfully transformed from the religion-based former Ottoman Empire into a modern nation-state with a very strong separation of state and religion, an increase in the methods of artistic expression followed. During the first years of the republic, the government invested a large amount of resources into the fine arts, such as museums, theatres, and architecture. Because of different historical factors playing an important role in defining the modern Turkish identity, Turkish culture is a product of efforts to be "modern" and Western, combined with the necessity felt to maintain traditional religious and historical values.<ref name="TR_culture">{{cite book|title=Social Theory and Later Modernities: The Turkish Experience|first=Ibrahim|last=Kaya|publisher=Liverpool University Press|location=|year=2003|id=ISBN 0-8532-3898-7|url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0853238987&id=0Iy7pJBRgjYC&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=Turkish+culture&sig=vfMN32AjbkM6idjKsbT7JR4zfWg#PPA49,M1}}</ref>

] and ] form great examples of such a mix of cultural influences. Many schools of music are popular throughout Turkey, from "]" to ] genres, as a result of the interaction between the Ottoman Empire and the Islamic world along with Europe, and thus contributing to a blend of Central Asian Turkic, Islamic and European traditions in modern-day Turkish music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmusikisi.com/osmanli_musikisi/the_ottoman_music.htm |title=The Ottoman music|author=Çinuçen Tanrıkorur|authorlink=Çinuçen Tanrıkorur|publisher=www.turkmusikisi.com|accessdate=2006-12-12|date=}}</ref> Turkish literature was heavily influenced by ] and, especially, ] literature during most of the Ottoman era, though towards the end of the Ottoman Empire the effect of both Turkish folk and Western literary traditions became increasingly felt. The mix of cultural influences is dramatized, for example, in the form of the "new symbols the clash and interlacing of cultures" enacted in the work of ], winner of the 2006 ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6044192.stm |title=Pamuk wins Nobel Literature prize|author=|authorlink=|work=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-12-12|date=2006-10-12}}</ref>

] in ], ]]]

Architectural elements found in Turkey are also testaments to the unique mix of traditions that have influenced the region over the centuries. In addition to the traditional ] present in numerous parts of Turkey, many artifacts of the later ], with its exquisite blend of local and Islamic traditions, are to be found throughout the country, as well as in many former territories of the Ottoman Empire. Since the 18th century, Turkish architecture has been increasingly influenced by Western styles, and this can be particularly seen in Istanbul where buildings like the ] and the ] are juxtaposed next to numerous modern skyscrapers, all of them representing different traditions.<ref>{{cite book|title=A History of Ottoman Architecture|first=Godfrey|last=Goodwin|publisher=Thames & Hudson|location=|year=2003|id=ISBN 0-5002-7429-0|url=}}</ref>

The most popular sport in Turkey by far is ], with certain professional and national matches drawing tens of millions of viewers on television.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutturkey.com/sports.htm |title=Sports in Turkey|author=Burak Sansal|publisher=allaboutturkey.com|accessdate=2006-12-13|date=2006}}</ref> Nevertheless, other sports such as ] and ] (following the inclusion of ] on the ] racing calendar) have also become popular recently. The traditional Turkish national sport has been the ] (''Oiled Wrestling'') since Ottoman times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutturkey.com/yagligures.htm |title=Oiled Wrestling|author=Burak Sansal|publisher=allaboutturkey.com|accessdate=2006-12-13|date=2006}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Turkey|Flag of Turkey.svg}}<br /><br />
{{Turkey-related topics}}

==Notes==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"><references/></div>

==References==
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{{col-begin}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}

;History
* {{cite book
| title = Al Hind: The Making of the Indo Islamic World, Vol. 1, Early Medieval India and the Expansion of Islam, 7th-11th Centuries
| first = Andre
| last = Wink
| publisher = Brill Academic Publishers
| location =
| year = 1990
| id = ISBN 90-04-09249-8
}}
* {{cite book
| title = The Oxford History of Byzantium
| first = Cyril
| last = Mango
| publisher = Oxford University Press, USA
| location =
| year = 2002
| id = ISBN 0-1981-4098-3
}}
* {{cite book
| title = The Ottoman Centuries: The Rise and Fall of the Turkish Empire
| first = Patrick
| last = Kinross
| publisher = Morrow
| location =
| year = 1977
| id = ISBN 0-6880-3093-9
}}
* {{cite book
| title = History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey
| first = Stanford
| last = Jay Shaw
| coauthors = Kural Shaw, Ezel
| publisher = Cambridge University Press
| location =
| year = 1977
| id = ISBN 0-5212-9163-1
}}
* {{cite book
| title = The Turks in World History
| first = Carter Vaughn
| last = Finly
| publisher = Oxford University Press, USA
| location =
| year = 2004
| id = ISBN 0-1951-7726-6
}}
* {{cite book
| title = Ataturk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey
| first = Andrew
| last = Mango
| publisher = Overlook
| location =
| year = 2000
| id = ISBN 1-5856-7011-1
}}

;Politics
* {{cite book
| title = Turkish Politics and the Military
| first = William Mathew
| last = Hale
| publisher = Routledge (UK)
| location =
| year = 1994
| id = ISBN 0-4150-2455-2
| url = http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=50O5kEzZ1JQC&oi=fnd&pg=RA1-PA1&sig=OjT1iSBlPON-NQRoo_tc37Wa_34&dq=Turkish+Armed+Forces#PRA1-PA154,M1
}}
* {{cite book
| title = Political Parties in Turkey
| first = Barry M.
| last = Rubin
| coauthors = Heper, Metin
| publisher = Routledge (UK)
| location =
| year = 2002
| id = ISBN 0-7146-5274-1
| url =
}}

;Foreign relations and military
* {{cite book
| title = Outposts and Allies: U.S. Army Logistics in the Cold War, 1945-1953
| first = James A.
| last = Huston
| publisher = Susquehanna University Press
| location =
| year = 1988
| id = ISBN 0-9416-6484-8
| url = http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0941664848&id=ID4E3Lm8TsgC&pg=PA198&lpg=PA198&ots=Yg9KqG871J&dq=turkey+cold+war&sig=d5Xry3n-9lmlUZTnM6tpFBBtxOQ#PPA177,M1
}}
* {{cite book
| title = Turkish Foreign Policy In Post Cold War Era
| first = Idris
| last = Bal
| publisher = Universal Publishers
| location =
| year = 2004
| id = ISBN 1-5811-2423-6
| url = http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1581124236&id=vDzjkrTDKjYC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=5PdqmRoyEn&dq=turkey+cold+war&sig=XoCrRT0pN70sZn6zvtnpdBF0HWw#PRA1-PA291,M1
}}
* {{cite book
| title = Turkey and the European Union: Domestic Politics, Economic Integration, and International Dynamics
| first = Barry
| last = Rubin
| coauthors = Çarkoǧlu, Ali
| publisher = Routledge (UK)
| location =
| year = 2003
| id = ISBN 0-7146-5402-7
| url = http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0714654027&id=1Nxy_E8Gds4C&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=_frveF1zQH&dq=Turkey+European+Union&sig=f3oKd0w9QWKju2W47R33TMMdz3w#PPP1,M1
}}
* {{cite web
| title = Generating Momentum for a New Era in U.S.-Turkey Relations
| author = Steven A. Cook
| coauthors = Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall
| authorlink =
| publisher = Council on Foreign Relations
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2006-12-17
| date = 2006-06-15
| url = http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/TurkeyCSR.pdf
}}
* {{cite paper
| title = Turkey/Military service
| author = United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Directorate for Movements of Persons, Migration and Consular Affairs - Asylum and Migration Division
| publisher = UNHCR
| format = PDF
| date = July 2001
| url=http://www.unhcr.org/home/RSDCOI/3c1622484.pdf
}}

{{col-break|width=50%}}

;Geography and climate
* {{cite web
| title = Climate of Turkey
| author = Turkish State Meteorological Service
| authorlink = Turkish State Meteorological Service
| publisher = Turkish State Meteorological Service
| accessdate = 2006-12-27
| date = 2006
| url = http://www.meteor.gov.tr/2006/english/eng-climateofturkey.aspx
}}

;Economy
* {{cite book
| title = Economics and Politics of Turkish Liberalization
| first = Tevfik F.
| last = Nas
| publisher = Lehigh University Press
| location =
| year = 1992
| id = ISBN 0-9342-2319-X
}}
* {{cite book
| title = OECD Reviews of Regulatory Refom - Turkey: crucial support for economic recovery : 2002
| first = Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
| last =
| publisher = Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
| location =
| year = 2002
| id = ISBN 92-64-19808-3
| url = http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9264198083&id=ufYU_fR7mLgC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=xxhe4iYB7B&dq=Turkey&sig=5WqjRxHbjn4ObFDJc_sQKuIB2sg#PPP1,M1
}}
* {{cite web
| title = Turkey's evolving trade integration into Pan-European markets
| author = Bartolomiej Kaminski
| coauthors = Francis Ng
| publisher = World Bank
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2006-12-27
| date = 2006-05-01
| url = http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2006/05/03/000016406_20060503112446/Rendered/PDF/wps3908.pdf
}}
* {{cite web
| title = Turkey Labor Market Study
| author = World Bank
| authorlink = World Bank
| publisher = World Bank
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2006-12-27
| date = 2005
| url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTTURKEY/Resources/361616-1144320150009/Labor_C2.pdf
}}

;Demographics
* {{cite book
| title = Religion and Politics in Turkey
| first = Ali
| last = Çarkoǧlu
| publisher = Routledge (UK)
| location=
| year = 2004
| id = ISBN 0-4153-4831-5
| url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0415348315&id=t5G_zw9exMQC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=nBltWxHPjd&dq=Religion+in+Turkey&sig=gLF9WOvOo0qZO5iwyUQSUc26Ya0#PPA28,M1}}
* {{cite book
| title = The other languages of Europe: Demographic, Sociolinguistic and Educational Perspectives
| first = Guus
| last = Extra
| coauthors = Gorter, Durk
| publisher = Multilingual Matters
| location =
| year = 2001
| id = ISBN 1-8535-9509-8
| url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1853595098&id=hvmy_skUPNYC&pg=RA1-PA422&lpg=RA1-PA422&ots=2bxjbJbuzM&dq=%22ethnic+groups+in+turkey%22&sig=gsODCAuvT1TRupKgZBsVDZf-oDE#PRA1-PA421,M1
}}
* {{cite book
| title = The Alevis in Turkey: The Emergence of a Secular Islamic Tradition
| first = David
| last = Shankland
| publisher = Routledge (UK)
| location =
| year = 2003
| id = ISBN 0-7007-1606-8
| url = http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0700716068&id=lFFRzTqLp6AC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&dq=Religion+in+Turkey&sig=qrG576JrBxJ4LIBqD-41ALytcAI#PPP1,M1
}}
* {{cite web
| title = 2000 Census, population by provinces and districts
| author = Turkish Statistical Institute
| authorlink = Turkish Statistical Institute
| publisher = Turkish Statistical Institute
| format = XLS
| accessdate = 2006-12-11
| date = 2000
| url = http://www.die.gov.tr/nufus_sayimi/2000tablo5.xls
}}

;Culture
* {{cite book
| title = Social Theory and Later Modernities: The Turkish Experience
| first = Ibrahim
| last = Kaya
| publisher = Liverpool University Press
| location =
| year = 2003
| id = ISBN 0-8532-3898-7
| url = http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0853238987&id=0Iy7pJBRgjYC&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=Turkish+culture&sig=vfMN32AjbkM6idjKsbT7JR4zfWg#PPA49,M1
}}
* {{cite book
| title = A History of Ottoman Architecture
| first = Godfrey
| last = Goodwin
| publisher = Thames & Hudson
| location =
| year = 2003
| id = ISBN 0-5002-7429-0
| url=
}}

{{col-end}}
</div>

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
| title = The Turks Today
| first = Andrew
| last = Mango
| publisher = Overlook
| location =
| year = 2004
| id = ISBN 1-5856-7615-2
| url=
}}

* {{cite book
| title = Turkey Unveiled
| first = Hugh
| last = Pope
| coauthors = Pope, Nicole
| publisher = Overlook
| location =
| year = 2004
| id = ISBN 1-5856-7581-4
| url=
}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Turkey}}

=== Government ===

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===Other===
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{{Template group
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|list =
{{Countries of Asia}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea}}
{{Countries and territories of the Middle East}}
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{{Template group
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{{NATO}}
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Revision as of 22:22, 10 May 2007

"Records" prove that Armenians are "Native" in the Armenian Highland:

File:Armenie88.jpg
Eternal "Ar"ian solar cross, Armenian Highland 3rd millennium BC

Thutmose_III of Egypt (1500 BCE) mentions the people of "Ermenen" paying tribute when he held his court at Ninevah, and says that in their land "heaven rests upon its four pillars." (note: Thutmose III was the first Pharaoh to cross the Euphrates to reach the Armenian Highland)

(note: Turks refer to Armenians by this form Ermeni)

Old Persian name Armin means dweller of the Garden of Eden (Persians used this form Armina for Armenia)

  1. Eric H. Cline and David O'Connor "Thutmose III", University of Michigan, 2006
  2. http://www.avesta.org/znames.htm