Turkey

Turkey

Introduction

Background

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or “Father of the Turks.” Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980), which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the ouster – popularly dubbed a “post-modern coup” – of the then Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as patron state to the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency 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. After the capture of the group’s leader in 1999, the insurgents largely withdrew from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGK announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGK increased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community. Over the past decade, it has undertaken many reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy

it began accession membership talks with the European Union in 2005.

Geography

Location

Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Geographic coordinates

39 00 N, 35 00 E

Map references

Middle East

Area

total: 783,562 sq km
country comparison to the world: 37 land:769,632 sq km
water:13,930 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries

total: 2,648 km
border countries:Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km

Coastline

7,200 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea

12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea
exclusive economic zone:in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR

Climate

temperate

hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters

harsher in interior

Terrain

high central plateau (Anatolia)

narrow coastal plain

several mountain ranges

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point:Mount Ararat 5,166 m

Natural resources

coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 29.81%
permanent crops:3.39%
other:66.8% (2005)

Irrigated land

52,150 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

234 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 39.78cu km/yr (15%/11%/74%)
per capita:544cu m/yr (2001)

Natural hazards

severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
volcanism:Turkey experiences little volcanic activity

its three historically active volcanoes

Ararat, Nemrut Dagi, and Tendurek Dagi have not erupted since the 19th century or earlier

Environment – current issues

water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents

air pollution, particularly in urban areas

deforestation

concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic

Environment – international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Environmental Modification

Geography – note

strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas

Mount Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah’s ark, is in the far eastern portion of the country

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Turk(s)
adjective:Turkish

Ethnic groups

Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 18%, other minorities 7-12% (2008 est.)

Languages

Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages

Religions

Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)

Population

78,785,548 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.6% (male 10,707,793/female 10,226,999)
15-64 years:67.1% (male 26,741,332/female 26,162,757)
65 years and over:6.3% (male 2,259,422/female 2,687,245) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 28.5 years
male:28.1 years
female:28.8 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.235% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Birth rate

17.93 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Death rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Net migration rate

0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Urbanization

urban population: 70% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

Istanbul 10.378 million

ANKARA (capital) 3.846 million

Izmir 2.679 million

Bursa 1.559 million

Adana 1.339 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.84 male(s)/female
total population:1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

23 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 123

Infant mortality rate

total: 23.94 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 84 male:25 deaths/1,000 live births
female:22.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.5 years
country comparison to the world: 126 male:70.61 years
female:74.49 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.15 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Health expenditures

6.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 88

Physicians density

1.451 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 82

Hospital bed density

2.41 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 89

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 96% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 4% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 75% of population
total: 90% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3% of population
rural: 25% of population
total: 10% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1%

less than 0.1% note – no country specific models provided (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

4,600 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

16.1% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 30

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.5% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 99

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 136

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:87.4%
male:95.3%
female:79.6% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:12 years
female:11 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 25.3%
country comparison to the world: 28 male:25.4%
female:25.1% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
conventional short form:Turkey
local long form:Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
local short form:Turkiye

Government type

republican parliamentary democracy

Capital

name: Ankara
geographic coordinates:39 56 N, 32 52 E
time difference:UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Monday in March

ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions

81 provinces (iller, singular – ili)

Adana, Adiyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir (Smyrna), Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon (Trebizond), Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak

Independence

29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday

Republic Day, 29 October (1923)

Constitution

7 November 1982

amended several times

note – amendment passed by referendum 21 October 2007 concerning presidential elections

Legal system

civil law system based on various European legal systems notably the Swiss civil code

note – member of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), although Turkey claims limited derogations on the ratified European Convention on Human Rights

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Abdullah GUL (since 28 August 2007)
head of government:Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 14 March 2003)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected directly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

prime minister appointed by the president from among members of parliament
election results:on 28 August 2007 the National Assembly elected Abdullah GUL president on the third ballot

National Assembly vote – 339
note:in October 2007 Turkish voters approved a referendum package of constitutional amendments including a provision for direct presidential elections

Legislative branch

unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (550 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 12 June 2011 (next to be held by June 2015)
election results:percent of vote by party – AKP 49.8%, CHP 25.9%, MHP 13%, independents 6.6%, other 4.7%

seats by party – AKP 326, CHP 135, MHP 53, independents 36

note – only parties surpassing the 10% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court

High Court of Appeals (Yargitay)

Council of State (Danistay)

Court of Accounts (Sayistay)

Military High Court of Appeals

Military High Administrative Court

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Left Party or DSP [Masum TURKER]

Democratic Party or DP [Namik Kemal ZEYBEK]

Equality and Democracy Party or EDP [Ziva HALIS]

Felicity Party or SP [Necmettin ERBAKAN] (sometimes translated as Contentment Party)

Freedom and Solidarity Party or ODP [Alper TAS]

Grand Unity Party or BBP [Yalcin TOPCU]

Justice and Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN]

Nationalist Movement Party or MHP [Devlet BAHCELI]

Peace and Democracy Party or BDP [Selahattin DEMIRTAS]

People’s Voice Party or HSP [Numan KURTULMUS]

Republican People’s Party or CHP [Kemal KILICDAROGLU]

Turkey Party or TP [Abdullatif SENER]
note:the parties listed above are some of the more significant of the 61 parties that Turkey had according to the Ministry of Interior statistics current as of May 2009

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey or TUSKON [Rizanur MERAL]

Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Sami EVREN]

Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [Suleyman CELEBI]

Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association or MUSIAD [Omer Cihad VARDAN]

Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [Salim USLU]

Turkish Confederation of Employers’ Unions or TISK [Tugrul KUDATGOBILIK]

Turkish Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is [Mustafa KUMLU]

Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen or TESK [Bendevi PALANDOKEN]

Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association or TUSIAD [Umit BOYNER]

Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU]

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN (observer), CICA, D-8, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EU (candidate country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Namik TAN
chancery:2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 612-6700
FAX:[1] (202) 612-6744
consulate(s) general:Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)

Charge d’Affaires Douglas A. SILLIMAN
embassy:110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara
mailing address:PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
telephone:[90] (312) 455-5555
FAX:[90] (312) 467-0019
consulate(s) general:Istanbul
consulate(s):Adana

note – there is a Consular Agent in Izmir

Flag description

red with a vertical white crescent moon (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening

the flag colors and designs closely resemble those on the banner of Ottoman Empire, which preceded modern-day Turkey

the crescent moon and star serve as insignia for the Turks, as well as being traditional symbols of Islam

according to legend, the flag represents the reflection of the moon and a star in a pool of blood of Turkish warriors

National symbol(s)

star and crescent

National anthem

name: “Istiklal Marsi” (Independence March)
lyrics/music:Mehmet Akif ERSOY/Zeki UNGOR
note:lyrics adopted 1921, music adopted 1932

the anthem’s original music was adopted in 1924

a new composition was agreed upon in 1932

Economy

Economy – overview

Turkey’s economy is increasingly driven by its industry and service sectors, although its traditional agriculture sector still accounts for about 30% of employment. An aggressive privatization program has reduced state involvement in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication, and an emerging cadre of middle-class entrepreneurs is adding dynamism to the economy. Turkey’s traditional textiles and clothing sectors still account for one-third of industrial employment, despite stiff competition in international markets that resulted from the end of the global quota system. Other sectors, notably the automotive, construction, and electronics industries, are rising in importance and have surpassed textiles within Turkey’s export mix. Oil began to flow through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in May 2006, marking a major milestone that will bring up to 1 million barrels per day from the Caspian to market. Several gas pipelines also are being planned to help move Central Asian gas to Europe via Turkey, which will help address Turkey’s dependence on energy imports over the long term. After Turkey experienced a severe financial crisis in 2001, Ankara adopted financial and fiscal reforms as part of an IMF program. The reforms strengthened the country’s economic fundamentals and ushered in an era of strong growth – averaging more than 6% annually until 2008, when global economic conditions and tighter fiscal policy caused GDP to contract in 2009, reduced inflation to 6.3% – a 34-year low – and cut the public sector debt-to-GPD ratio below 50%. Turkey’s well-regulated financial markets and banking system weathered the global financial crisis and GDP rebounded strongly to 7.3% in 2010, as exports returned to normal levels following the recession. The economy, however, continues to be burdened by a high current account deficit and remains dependent on often volatile, short-term investment to finance its trade deficit. The stock value of FDI stood at $174 billion at year-end 2010, but inflows have slowed considerably in light of continuing economic turmoil in Europe, the source of much of Turkey’s FDI. Further economic and judicial reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boost Turkey’s attractiveness to foreign investors. However, Turkey’s relatively high current account deficit, uncertainty related to policy-making, and fiscal imbalances leave the economy vulnerable to destabilizing shifts in investor confidence.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$960.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17 $887.7 billion (2009 est.)
$931.4 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$741.9 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

8.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16 -4.7% (2009 est.)
0.7% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$12,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94 $11,600 (2009 est.)
$12,300 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 9.6%
industry:26.7%
services:63.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

25.64 million
country comparison to the world: 24 note:about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2010 est.)

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 29.5%
industry:24.7%
services:45.8% (2005)

Unemployment rate

12% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128 14.1% (2009 est.)
note:underemployment amounted to 4% in 2008

Population below poverty line

17.11% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%:30.3% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

39.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 64 43.6 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Budget

revenues: $169 billion
expenditures:$195.4 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113

Public debt

43% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65 46.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194 6.3% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

15% (22 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 6 25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

19% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18 21% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$58.27 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 $46.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$400.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23 $349.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$496 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26 $402.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$306.7 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 28 $225.7 billion (31 December 2009)
$117.9 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, hazelnuts, pulse, citrus

livestock

Industries

textiles, food processing, autos, electronics, mining (coal, chromate, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

Industrial production growth rate

13.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Electricity – production

185.2 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Electricity – consumption

161 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Electricity – exports

1.55 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

737 million kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

55,110 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

Oil – consumption

646,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

Oil – exports

68,450 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Oil – imports

581,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Oil – proved reserves

270.4 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

Natural gas – production

674 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Natural gas – consumption

38.12 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas – exports

649 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Natural gas – imports

38.04 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Natural gas – proved reserves

6.173 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Current account balance

-$48.42 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190 -$13.99 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$120.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32 $109.6 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport equipment

Exports – partners

Germany 10.1%, UK 6.4%, Italy 5.7%, France 5.3%, Iraq 5.3%, Russia 4.1% (2010)

Imports

$177.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23 $134.5 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport equipment

Imports – partners

Russia 11.6%, Germany 9.5%, China 9.3%, US 6.6%, Italy 5.5%, France 4.4%, Iran 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$86.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23 $75 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$309.6 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29 $290.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$86.98 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36 $77.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$16.88 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46 $15.42 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar -
1.5181 (2010)
1.55 (2009)
1.3179 (2008)
1.319 (2007)
1.4286 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

99 (2010)
country comparison to the world:60

Airports – with paved runways

total: 88
over 3,047 m:16
2,438 to 3,047 m:33
1,524 to 2,437 m:19
914 to 1,523 m:16
under 914 m:4 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:6
under 914 m:4 (2010)

Heliports

20 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 10,706 km

oil 3,636 km (2010)

Railways

total: 8,699 km
country comparison to the world: 24 standard gauge:8,699 km 1.435-m gauge (1,928 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 352,046 km
country comparison to the world: 19 paved:313,151 km (includes 2,010 km of expressways)
unpaved:38,895 km (2008)

Waterways

1,200 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 59

Merchant marine

total: 645
country comparison to the world: 18 by type:bulk carrier 95, cargo 290, chemical tanker 85, combination ore/oil 1, container 40, liquefied gas 6, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 59, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 34, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned:3 (Germany 1, Italy 2)
registered in other countries:686 (Albania 1, Antigua and Barbuda 7, Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 3, Barbados 1, Belize 18, Cambodia 26, Comoros 16, Cook Islands 4, Dominica 1, Georgia 22, Italy 3, Kiribati 3, Liberia 15, Malta 211, Marshall Islands 72, Moldova 18, Mongolia 1, former Netherlands Antilles 8, Panama 79, Russia 104, Saint Kitts and Nevis 22, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18, Sierra Leone 14, Slovakia 2, Tanzania 7, Togo 4, Turkmenistan 1, Tuvalu 1, UK 1, unknown 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Aliaga, Diliskelesi, Eregli, Izmir, Izmit (Kocaeli), Mercin (Icel), Limani, Yarimca

Military

Military branches

Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Turkish Land Forces (Turk Kara Kuvvetleri), Turkish Naval Forces (Turk Deniz Kuvvetleri

includes naval air and naval infantry), Turkish Air Force (Turk Hava Kuvvetleri) (2010)

Military service age and obligation

19-41 years of age for male compulsory military service

18 years of age for voluntary service

15 months conscript obligation for non-university graduates, 6-12 months for university graduates

women serve in the Turkish Armed Forces only as officers

reserve obligation to age 41 (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 21,079,077
females age 16-49:20,558,696 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 17,664,510
females age 16-49:17,340,816 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 700,079
female:670,328 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Military – note

a “National Security Policy Document” adopted in October 2005 increases the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) role in internal security, augmenting the General Directorate of Security and Gendarmerie General Command (Jandarma)

the TSK leadership continues to play a key role in politics and considers itself guardian of Turkey’s secular state

in April 2007, it warned the ruling party about any pro-Islamic appointments

despite on-going negotiations on EU accession since October 2005, progress has been limited in establishing required civilian supremacy over the military

primary domestic threats are listed as fundamentalism (with the definition in some dispute with the civilian government), separatism (the Kurdish problem), and the extreme left wing

Ankara strongly opposed establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region

an overhaul of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) taking place under the “Force 2014″ program is to produce 20-30% smaller, more highly trained forces characterized by greater mobility and firepower and capable of joint and combined operations

the TLFC has taken on increasing international peacekeeping responsibilities, and took charge of a NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command in Afghanistan in April 2007

the Turkish Navy is a regional naval power that wants to develop the capability to project power beyond Turkey’s coastal waters

the Navy is heavily involved in NATO, multinational, and UN operations

its roles include control of territorial waters and security for sea lines of communications

the Turkish Air Force adopted an “Aerospace and Missile Defense Concept” in 2002 and has initiated project work on an integrated missile defense system

Air Force priorities include attaining a modern deployable, survivable, and sustainable force structure, and establishing a sustainable command and control system (2008)

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea

status of north Cyprus question remains

Syria and Iraq protest Turkish hydrological projects to control upper Euphrates waters

Turkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in Iraq

in 2009, Swiss mediators facilitated an accord reestablishing diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey, but neither side has ratified the agreement and the rapprochement effort has faltered

Turkish authorities have complained that blasting from quarries in Armenia might be damaging the medieval ruins of Ani, on the other side of the Arpacay valley;

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 1-1.2 million (fighting 1984-99 between Kurdish PKK and Turkish military

most IDPs in southeastern provinces) (2007)

Illicit drugs

key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and, to a lesser extent, the US – via air, land, and sea routes

major Turkish and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul

laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin exist in remote regions of Turkey and near Istanbul

government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and over output of poppy straw concentrate

lax enforcement of money-laundering controls