GENERAL INFORMATION

The Republic of Turkey, the 36th largest country in the world, covers roughly 300,000 square miles in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. Turkey is bordered by the Black Sea to the north; by Bulgaria and Greece to the northwest; Georgia, Armenia and Iran to the East; the Mediterranean Sea, Iraq and Syria to the south; and the Aegean Sea to the west.

Twice the size of California in dimension and population (60,000,000+), Turkey enjoys many of the same physical characteristics from forested mountains to scenic coastlines, widely diverse crop and grazing lands, salt and fresh water lakes; moist, arid, remote and densely populated regions, moderate to extreme seasonal variances, oil and mineral resources, and myriad tourist attractions. Truly a crossroads of civilizations from the ancients who inhabited Anatolia more than 8,000 years ago to the 600-year Ottoman Empire encompassing North Africa, the Middle-East and southeastern Europe until its collapse just a little more than 75 years ago. Turkey abounds with Greek, Roman, Biblical and other historical landmarks. Istanbul, beautifully spanning two continents, the Bosphorous Straits, and centuries of religious, cultural and political change, is a world-class tourist and shopping 'Mecca'.

In recent years, the booming tourist industry has sparked development of countless 3 to 5-star hotels, restaurants and recreational facilities from the major cities to the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts; from the moonscapes of Cappadocia and Pamukkale to mountain ski resorts. Moderate prices remain available, but come quickly because the Turks are learning fast. English language newspapers and TV channels are now available in most areas and at all VBR jobsites. You needn’t fear, however, that Turkey has lost its more primitive Eastern charm. Donkey carts, street vendors and open markets still prevail in the tangled streets of the major cities; rural areas remain substantially unchanged from the Tumpane (or Ottoman) days; power, water and telephone outages still occur and traditionally warm hospitality is abundantly available to any American extending a smile, handshake or any other common courtesy or polite request for help.

ATATÜRK

Mustafa Kemal (better known as “Atatürk - Father of the Turks”) was born in 1881, in what is now Salonika, Greece, but was then a part of the Ottoman Empire. He rose quickly in the army of the Sultan, gaining national prominence at Gallipoli during World War I. The Empire, having sided with Germany, lost territories and became a puppet of the European victors. Atatürk bristled at the Sultan’s self-serving acquiescence and the growing incursions of Greeks, French, Russians and others well within present-day Turkish borders.

The current Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 by Atatürk following World War I and the Empire's resulting collapse.  Atatürk organized the Turks of central Anatolia, drove the Greeks and other Europeans out of Turkey and established a new, democratic government in a new capital at Ankara.

Turkey’s relations with Greece are still marred by political and historical differences, but significant improvements has been made in recent years. The Turkish military presence in northern Cyprus coupled with disputes over oil and mineral rights, travel lanes and fortifications in the Aegean Sea continue to cause difficulties between the two countries.

In April 1924, Atatürk began to move the country toward western models. He admired the western nations, with their technical and social advancements, and held that Turkey’s best interests lay in following that direction.

In 1928, Islam ceased to be the official state religion. Ninety-nine percent of the population is Muslim, however, people may pursue any chosen religion and Turkey remains a secular state. Christians and Jews account for less than 1% of the population. Polygamy was banned, along with the previous discrimination against women. The traditional headgear of the Ottoman Empire, the fez, was also banned and replaced with western hats. The Gregorian calendar replaced the Muslim calendar and the day of rest was changed from Friday to Sunday.

By 1928, the Arabic alphabet was replaced with the Latin. Arabic/Persian grammatical forms of speech were replaced with new words using Turkish roots. A whole new language was spoken and written by the young Turkish nation; a phenomenal achievement! All persons in Turkey were required to adopt a last name by 1934 and the title “Atatürk” was conferred on Mustafa Kemal by the Turkish congress. After his death in 1938, Ataturk was laid to rest in Ankara and his mausoleum is a major tourist attraction.

National Government:

Under the 1982 constitution, legislative power rests in the Grand National Assembly, a 550-member unicameral body directly elected to 5-year terms. The head of government is the prime minister, who represents the majority party or coalition in parliament. The president, as chief of state, is chosen by parliament for a 7-year term.

Local Government:

Turkey is divided into 76 provinces, which are administered by governors representing the central government. The provinces are subdivided into districts, which have little political significance, and precincts, which may levy local taxes and exercise other local powers.