Turkey

The Republic of Turkey or Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye), is a bicontinental country that is located mainly in the Middle East (Southwest Asia) and partly in Southeast Europe; The Anatolian peninsula comprises most(97%) of its territory, and is situated between the Black Sea on the north and the Mediterranean Sea to south and west, with the Aegean Sea (and Marmara Sea) in between. A small portion of the country's territory (3%) is situated in southeastern Europe, west of the Bosphorus straits.

Politics and International Relations

Main article: Politics of Turkey

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Republic of Turkey was created in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a pragmatic and reformist leader who reformed Turkey into a modern, secular, and western-oriented republic. Over the years, fears of a shift from secularity and western orientation led to a left-wing military coup in 1961, and fears of a shift towards the Eastern Block have led to two more right-wing military coups in 1971 and 1980. Democratic rule has since returned. Turkey became a member of NATO in 1952, making it the first and only Muslim country to be a NATO member. Turkey is currently seeking membership of the European Union. December 17th 2004 marked the official opening of talks for the accession of Turkey to the European Union, and it remains one of the main issues in Turkish foreign diplomacy.

Related Topics:
1923 - Mustafa Kemal Atatürk - Republic - Coup - Eastern Block - 1971 - 1980 - NATO - 1952 - European Union - December 17th - 2004 - Accession of Turkey to the European Union

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following the rejection of the European Constitution by France and Netherlands, many EU countries have called into question as to whether Turkey should join. While some countries such as the UK, Spain, Italy, Greece are ardent supporters of their membership, others such as France, Germany (with a large Turkish minority) and Netherlands are more sceptical. Though many Turks are in favour of joining the EU, many are uncomfortable with the conditions Brussels is attaching, without a guarantee of eventual membership.

Related Topics:
France - Netherlands - UK - Spain - Italy - Greece

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

International disputes such as Turkish involvement in Cyprus have hindered Turkeys accession. Turkey invaded the island in 1974 in response to an Athens backed coup of the island, Turkey states that it was invoking its role under the Treaty of Guarantee to ensure the independence of the island and protection of its Turkish Cypriot minority. The island has since been partitioned into the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north (recognised only by Turkey) and the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus in the South. Turkey acknowledges the south only as the Greek Cypriot Administration, this has conflicted with calls from the EU to extend full diplomatic ties before joining the EU.

Related Topics:
Cyprus - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Another issue which has caused debate are the allegations relating to the genocide against Armenians in the Ottoman era. According to Armenian and international sources, at least 600,000 people lost their lives between 1915 and 1917 as Armenians were exiled from their homes in what is modern day Turkey - some put the figure as high as a million and a half. The recognition of the deaths as genocide has been high on Armenias foreign policy agenda, 16 countries have formally recognised this. Turkey maintains that the Armenian casualties were the result of inter-ethnic strife, disease and famine during the turmoil of World War I. They also claim that hundreds of thousands of Turks and Muslims were killed in conflict with Russian backed Armenian militia.

Related Topics:
Genocide against Armenians - Ottoman - World War I

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Turkish ambitions to join the European Union in the early 1960s soon resulted in associate status in the European Economic Community. The Turkish government hoped that full membership would follow in the years to come. Unfortunately, turbulence from the 1970s until the late 1980s forced Turkey to delay formally applying to join the European Community until 1987. The application was rejected, although the EC did say that Turkish membership could occur at some point in the future.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An EU-Turkey Customs Union came into force on January 1, 1996 allowing goods to travel between the Turkey and European Union member states without customs restrictions, although it crucially stopped short of lifting restrictions in such areas as agriculture.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The European Union confirmed Turkey's status as candidate for membership at its Helsinki conference in 1999. The Turkish Accession talks did not follow immediately however, as the EU said Turkey had to make significant reforms, particularly in the field of human rights, before the talks could begin. On October 03, 2005, The European Union and Turkey announced in Luxembourg a negotiating framework that will allow formal talks on Turkish membership of the EU to begin. It is estimated that Turkey's full membership into the bloc will take 10-15 years. Turkey will be the only predominantly Muslim country to be part of the European Union.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Legislative power: The Turkish Grand National Assembly
• Executive power: President and the Council of Ministers
• Judicial power: Independent courts and supreme judiciary organs

See also:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Foreign relations of Turkey
• Cyprus dispute
• Constitution of Turkey