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Revision as of 19:02, 6 October 2002 by 142.161.0.91 (talk) (Some detail added)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Other meanings of turkey:
- turkey (bird)
- Any failed event such as a theatrical production or scientific experiment.
- An undesirable or annoying person.
- In bowling, three consecutive strikes.
- "cold turkey", a withdrawal from drug addiction without gradual tapering off of usage
File:Turkey flag medium.png
When capitalized, the word Turkey refers to a country (Türkiye) located between Europe and Middle East (see Asia Minor).
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk created the modern Turkish Republic (Turkey) in 1923 from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire. Secular laws replaced traditional religious ones, and Arabic script was abolished in favour of the Latin alphabet. Ataturk orchestrated a complete language reform and created a new Western-style Turkish language. Turkey joined the United Nations in 1945, and became a member of NATO in 1952.
Turkey's capital city is Ankara (2.6m). Other important cities are Izmir (1.7m), Istanbul (6.6m), Bursa (0.835m)
Population: 66 million (approx., 2001)
Ethnic background: Approximately 80% Turkish, 20% Kurdish. Small numbers of Greek, Armenian, Arabic, Jewish and others.
Religious background: mostly Sunni Muslims 98% with Orthodox Christians, Armenian Apostolic, Roman Catholic and Protestant minorities (2%).