Turkey

//Choose a topic and use a different colour from everyone else to write your information. List your sources, use your own words. Add information to any other topic in your own colour.//
 * TURKEY - Country Report**

**Recent history (last 50 years, especially 10)** --Merette Khalil
__** Recent History of the Republic of Turkey: **__ __** Most Recent History: **__ __Sources__:
 * **1945** - Neutral for most of World War II, Turkey declares war on Germany and Japan, but does not take part in combat. __Joins United Nations.__
 * **1950** - Republic's first open elections, won by opposition Democratic Party.
 * **1952** - Turkey abandons //__Ataturk's__// neutralist policy and joins __NATO.__
 * **1960, 1971, 1980, 1997**- Several __military coups__ attempted to oppose the democracy but with failed results since the political power always returned to the hands of the citizens.
 * **1963** - Association agreement signed with __European Economic Community (EEC__)
 * **1974** - Turkish troops invade northern Cyprus, after a decade of violence between Greece and Cyprus and established a Turkish dictator to rule the __Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.__
 * **1984**- Separatist uprising begun in 1984 by the __**Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK**__) - now known as the __**People's Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK)**__ - has dominated the Turkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives.
 * **1990** - Turkey allows US-led coalition against Iraq to launch air strikes from Turkish bases.
 * **1992** - 20,000 Turkish troops enter Kurdish safe havens in Iraq in anti-PKK operation. Turkey joins Black Sea alliance.
 * **1993** - Tansu Ciller becomes Turkey's first woman prime minister, and //__Demirel__// elected president. Ceasefire with PKK breaks down.
 * **1999**- After the capture of the group's (PKK) leader in 1999, the insurgents largely withdrew __from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq.__
 * **2000** - Ahmet Necdet //__Sezer__// takes over from Suleyman Demirel as president.
 * **2001**-**2002**- __Human rights__ are being recognized and thus European Court finds Turkey guilty of committing genocide against Greek Cypriots during occupation of North Cyprus. __Women’s rights__ are given fully, removing men from being head of families. __**Islamist-based Justice and Development Party (AK)**__ wins landslide election victory. Party promises to stick to secular principles of constitution, leader Recep Tayyip __Erdogan__ becomes PM (prime minister).
 * **2004** - PKK announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks increased. NATO heads of state gather for summit in Istanbul. EU discussed Turkey’s accession, which was only to be done when Turkey recognizes Cyprus as an EU member.
 * **2005**- **__NEW lira currency is introduced.__** Many bombings and killings occur which are blamed on PKK. Russian gas trade with Turkey increases as a pipeline is constructed.
 * **2006**- PKK declares a unilateral ceasefire against the military. EU freezes Turkey’s membership talks because of Ankara’s failure to open its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic
 * **2007**- Tension mounts on __Turkey-Iraq__ border amid speculation that Turkey may launch an incursion to tackle Kurdish rebels. //__Abdullah Gul__// is elected president. Turkey launches a series of air strikes on fighters from the Kurdish PKK movement inside Iraq.
 * **2009**- __Turkey and Armenia__ agree to normalize relations at a meeting in Switzerland. Turkey says opening the border will depend on progress on resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
 * **2010**- Turkey’s parliament is still trying to balance between __secular and Islamic__ groups in order to make it more democratic. Turkey’s relations to Israel undergo strain. **__PKK leader Murat Karayilan__** says it is willing to disarm in return for greater political and cultural rights for Turkey's Kurds. Turkey refuses to comment.
 * []
 * []
 * []

Economic situation - trade, debt (Rukmini) 1) **//Major Imports ://**

 These include petroleum products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, iron, steel, vehicles and machinery. **//Major exports ://**  These include iron and metals, machinery, buses, chemicals, cement, ceramics, glass, cotton, textiles, leather, agricultural goods, tobacco, fruits, and foodstuffs.  2) **//Social Insurance://**  There are three big social security institutions established by the state:  • The Retirement Trust (Emekli Sandigi)  • The Social Insurance Board (Sosyal Sigortalar Kurumu)  • The Social Insurance Board for businessmen, craftsmen and others (Bag-Kur)  Every working person pays a %20 percent of his/her salary to the state (This is being done automatically by the properties). In return of this man are being retired after 30 to 35 years working and could make usage of the free health service of the government.   Because the standards of many hospitals are below average, many people who could effort it do pay an additional fee to private health or life insurance companies.  2) environment>>>>>fishing industry effected by over fishing and water pollution and primitive techniques.  3) tourism. major sector. country improved infrastructure to accomodate. built new cenetrs for tourists. offers more jobs.  4) Turkey self-sufficient in food. grows (in order), wheat/barley/pulses.  5) currency: Turkish Lira, changed in 2005  6) government strict controls on legal opium poppy cultivation.  7) exports/imports badly effected in 2008. trade defecit -31%  8) major import partners: USA, Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Swizerland, UK.  9) trade relations with Africa expected to strengthen this year.  10) textile industry <25% overall export of country.  11) aims to be third largest automobile producing country in Europe and tenth largest in world.  12) largest industrial sector: textile and clothing. (1/3 industrial employment) <span style="display: block; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Arial; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">13) ***<span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Turkey remains low - averaging less than $1 billion annually, but further economic and judicial reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boost FDI. A major political and economic issue over the next decade is whether or not Turkey will become a member of the EU. **


 * Sources: **
 * http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/turkey/industry-sector-industries.html **
 * http://www.allaboutturkey.com/info.htm **
 * <span style="color: #000000; font: 13px/19px Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;">http://countrystudies.us/turkey/53.htm **
 * <span style="color: #000000; font: 13px/19px Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;">http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/turkey/turkey_economy.html **
 * <span style="color: #000000; font: 13px/19px Arial; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;">http://www.travelblog.org/World/tu-econ.html **

Foreign relations - allies, relationship with EU with Arab countries, with USA KARIM ABDEL WADOOD ** []-- This has some details about Turkey's foreign relations with many countries worldwide. Hope it helps, for now.

Current Issues - Nathaniel

· Border/Land disputes with Greece over :

o Cyprus = small (previously) Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea o Turkish troops invaded Cyprus on July 20th 1974 o Turkish policy demands that a third of the Greek population in Turkey’s Cyprus territories is thought of as ethnic cleansing § Ethnic cleansing in definition: //a mass expulsion and killing of one ethnic or religious group in an area, by another ethnic or religious group in that area// (definition by Princeton Uni.) o UN Security Council (UNSC) have demanded that Turkey withdraw all troops from Cyprus – the Turkish refuse, saying that if they do so, fighting and killing will continue on the island of Cyprus o the Annan Plan, endorsed by the US, UK and Turkey, as well as Turkish Cypriots, stated that the island should be reunified with both sides of the argument equally represented § It was rejected by Greek Cypriots at the poles, after the Greek Orthodox church urged the Greeks to decline the plan o Greek Cypriots later rejected two other UN settlement plans, both plans were approved by the Turkish gov. and the Turkish Cypriots o Not viewed as 2 states, the island entered the EU   · Illicit Drug Trafficking (NOTABLY HEROIN) o Turkey plays a key role in the transit of heroin from southwestern Asia to western European countries – Turkish illegal Heroin imports also reach the US   o Drugs created in laboratories in Istanbul – organizations work out of Istanbul § 80% of heroin on European markets was processed at a Turkish laboratory o Gov. has strict control over areas whom produce legal opium poppy § Also have control of output of poppy straw concentrate o Reasons for country’s key role in illicit heroin trafficking § Crossroads of Europe, Middle East, Asia, and the Mediterranean § Numerous international contacts dating back from Ottoman Empire days · Large sphere of influence in eastern directions still remains o Turkish Mafia have a strong and overpowering hand in international heroin trade o 2 civil and military secret service organizations are involved in heroin trade § they are both protected by Turkeys highest and most extensive bureaucratic system o Turkey not criticized for their involvement in the trade of heroin is a geo-political one § Turkey has important role in: · NATO · Middle East · US lobbying for Turkey to become full EU member § So therefore no one will blame/offend them for fear of attack from these other powerful entities · Turkey EU status: o First application in 1987 o Been associative member since 1963 o EU willing to go in open negotiations with Turkey about their admission to EU   § Negotiations have stopped for numerous domestic and external problems § The issue of Cyprus is a major obstacle for admission · Turned into freezing point over a few topics being negotiated

· <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">required areas where Turkey needs development for entry: o <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Public Procurement o <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Company Law o <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Financial Service o <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Agriculture and Rural development o <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Transport Policy o <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Social Policy and Employment o <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Judiciary and Fundamental Rights o <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Justice, Freedom and Security <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">Once fully aligned with these institutes, and Turkey withdraws all troops from Cyprus, the state will me very eligible for their admission to the EU. <span style="color: red; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">UK supports Turkey’s admission to EU. France and Austria both oppose the admission of Turkey in the EU.

· [|wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn] · [] · [] · [] []

Society and Geopolitical/ethnic groupings (CHRIS) * Population=73 million with Population increase of 1.5% annualy *Male literacy=96% vs Female literacy of 80.4% due in part to arab and kurdish traditions in Southeastern provinces * Average life expectancy=73.2 years *Non denominational despite over 50% claiming to be Muslim *Country has freedom of worshiip and are strongly for personal rights and sovereignty * Majority of population= Turks and Kurds Minorities include-Abkhazians, Adjarians, Albanians, Arabs, Assyrians, Bosniaks, Circassians, Hamshenis, Kurds, Laz, Pomaks, Roma, Zazas and the three officially recognized minorities (per the Treaty of Lausanne), i.e. the Armenians, Greeks and Jews. Signed on January 30, 1923, a bilateral accord of population exchange between Greece and Turkey took effect in the 1920s, with close to 1.5 million Greeks moving from Turkey and some 500,000 Turks coming from Greece. * Official language is turkish but Arabic as well as Bosnian and Kurdish are spoken throughout the country and on public radio stations etc. * Want to be part of EU but need to pull troops out of cyprus (underlying issue of it being a majority Muslim country) *Neighbors are- Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Syria, very close to Greece Trading Partners:

Development level Jiho Park

Turkey ranks 83 out of 169 countries for Human Development Index. Human Development Index is composed from data on life expectancy, education and per-capita GDP (as an indicator of standard of living). These are some of Turkey’s development and reform agendas

Turkey and Gender


 * Turkish women were granted full voting rights in 1986
 * Turkey ranks 76th out of 80 countries for women’s emancipation
 * Only 4.4% of parliamentary seats are held by women
 * Women’s labor force is at 26%
 * Net enrolment of girls in secondary education is only 42%
 * Women is one of the population group who traditionally been economically disadvantaged
 * The last 25 years have shown improvements in women’s living standards with exception of life expectancy

Democratic Governance in Turkey


 * Turkey has changed priorities and reform agenda that are in line with its EU aspirations
 * Focused on issue of decentralization, public administration reform and promotion of human rights
 * Focused on women’s empowerment and participation in politics
 * Focused on grater use of information communication technology (ICT) as means to increase transparency, efficiency and participation in decision making for powerless (e.g. women and youth)

Poverty Reduction and Turkey

 Source:
 * The incidence of extreme poverty in Turkey (the percentage of the population living on less than 1 USD a day) is less than 0.02% (SIS Poverty Study, 2003)
 * Recent poverty study indicates there is an increase in “New Poverty “
 * Poverty that is long-term and not easily remedied by access to traditional support networks of family and friends
 * Another shocking aspect is regional disparities
 * The eastern and southeastern regions are less prosperous than the West
 * Due to lack of natural and human resources
 * Costal areas enjoy better access to world and regional markets

 http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_TUR.html

 http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/

 http://www.undp.org.tr/Gozlem2.aspx?WebSayfaNo=1 www.undp.org.tr/publicationsDocuments/english.pdf <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Membership of international organisations, treaties- Dalia <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Turkey is a member of: <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">UN, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, NATO, G20, WTO, European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Business Council, Neo-Ottomanism, the Ankara Agreement, 2009 Armenia- Turkey Accord, Central Treaty Organization, Convention between Italy and Turkey, Geneva Convention (1,2,3,4), Treaty of Kars, Treaty of Lausanne, Armistice of Mudanya, Treaty of Saadabad, Treaty of Guarantee, Wassenaar Agreement, European Association for Palliative Care, Food and Agriculture Organization, IAEA, International Monetary Fund, Interpol, International Energy Agency, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Southeast European Cooperative Initiative, World Federation of Trade Unions, WTO, WHO <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Turkey is also an observer state of the Association of Caribbean States.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sources: <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> []

News links

Resources that are useful: http://www.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php?pwcn=741_105&wc_c=476&wc_id=1415 [] (English Newspaper in Turkey. Could be a good way to stay updated on current events, hope it helps.)