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Turkey
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- Accession to the Council of Europe: 1949
- Area : 780 580 km2
- Population : 76.67 million inhabitants (2014)
- Capital : Ankara
- Official language : Turkish
- Political Regime : Republican parliamentary democracy
- Head of state and of government : Recep Tayyip Erdogan, re-elected on June 24th, 2018
- Head of government : A constitutional review, which came into force after June 24th 2018, put an end to the function of prime minister
- Currency : Turkish lira
- International code : + 90
- National holiday : October 29
History
As the birthplace of several civilizations—the Assyrians, the Sumerians, the Hittites, the Greeks, and the Romans — Turkey’s cultural history is very rich. Founded at the beggining of the 14th century, the Ottoman Empire, authoritarian and archaic, faced a national movement similar to those throughout Europe. The First World War precipitated its downfall. As the Allies dismantled the fallen empire, nationalist Mustafa Kemal was preparing himself for the national independence.
Picture: Bosphorus Bridge
Source: Turkish Embassy, Paris
Picture: Bosphorus Bridge
Source: Turkish Embassy, Paris
- 1923 : Turkey gains independence thanks to the Treaty of Lausanne. Mustafa Kemal is named first president of the Republic of Turkey.
- 1924 : Abolition of the Caliphate, followed by a series of reforms creating a completely secular state turned to the occident.
- 1928 : Turkey is no longer an Islamic state.
- 1934 : Suffrage is granted to women.
- 1945 : Multi-party system established.
- 1949 : Turkey joins the Council of Europe and NATO.
- 1960 : Military coup overthrows the party in power in order to safeguard the democratic state. They remain in power for one year.
- 1980 : Military coup. Rise in separatist activities by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) against the Turkish state (the PKK dates back to 1925).
- 1987 Turky applies for membership in the EU. This is rejected by the commission in 1989.
- 1995 : Refah Islamists win a majority in the legislative elections. Customs union with the EU.
- 1998 : Prime Minister issues a dissolution of the Refah party for actions against the secular principles of the Republic.
- 2005 : Turkey begins adhesion negotiations with the EU which were accorded due to the reforms relaized by Turkey (abolishment of death penalty, army under more civil control) .
- 2006 : Suspension of Franco-Turkish relations due to a French law penalizing Turkish denial of the Armenian genocide in 1915. First official voyage of a pope to a Muslim country; Benoit XVI supports Turkish accession to the EU. Turkey’s refusal to follow the EU’s custom union regulations with Cyprus causes a halt in the adhesion negotiations.
- 2007 : Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party wins the legislative elections. For the third time, the Parliament elected Abdullah Gul as the president of the Republic of Turkey. National referendum alters presidential elections from being elected by the national Parliament to universal suffrage. Parliament approves military actions against Kurdish rebels in Northern Iraq.
- 2008 : the constitutionnal court repeals the constitutionnal reform that allowed the carrying of the islamic scarf by women on campus. With 6 votes agaisnt 5, the constitutionnal court chose not to banned from political life the Jusrice and Development Party (AKP) ; such demand was made because of “activities against laïcity”.
- 2009 : the non-implementation of the Akara protocole prevents 8 chapters from being negociated.
Istanbul
With one foot in Europe and the other in the Middle East, Istanbul is know for being the crossroad between the Occident and the Orient. Such heritage makes it an ancient city of prestige with its elaborate mosques, palaces, and castles.
As the capital of the former Byzantine Empire during the 14th and 15th centuries, Istanbul, at that time Constantinople, was the religious, intellectual, and commercial center for the Christian Orient. Taken by the Turks in 1453, Constantinople was renamed Istanbul and proclaimed the capital of the Ottoman Empire until 1923.
Throughout its history, Istanbul has developed a heritage rich in architecture, with architectural masterpieces such as the Golden Horn, the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace. Although Istanbul is no longer the capital, it still remains at the economic and cultural heart of Turkey.
As the capital of the former Byzantine Empire during the 14th and 15th centuries, Istanbul, at that time Constantinople, was the religious, intellectual, and commercial center for the Christian Orient. Taken by the Turks in 1453, Constantinople was renamed Istanbul and proclaimed the capital of the Ottoman Empire until 1923.
Throughout its history, Istanbul has developed a heritage rich in architecture, with architectural masterpieces such as the Golden Horn, the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace. Although Istanbul is no longer the capital, it still remains at the economic and cultural heart of Turkey.
Picture: Hagia Sophia
Source: Turkish Embassy, Paris
Ataturk
Born in Salonique in 1881, the future “father of the Turks,” Ataturk, claimed to be European. After a solid military education, Kemal participated in a movement against the sultan in 1908. During the First World War, Ataturk quickly became a national hero. In 1919 Kemal spearheaded a national revolt, which successfully overthrew the sultan; a provisionary government was later established in Ankara. In 1920, Mustafa Kemal was in complete opposition with the Treaty of Sevres, imposed by the Allied Powers, which dismantled the Ottoman Empire. Two year later in 1922, he fought against the Greeks, who attempted to seize Anatolia. Finally in 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne laid the foundation for a new state—the Republic of Turkey. National liberator, Mustafa Kemal became the founder and first president of the Republic. During his time as head of state, Ataturk transformed the nation into a secular and modern state, implementing legislation similar to the laws in Europe. Up to his death, the Republic was still somewhat authoritarian. Inspire by the French Revolution, Kemal favored national sovereignty, but refused to respond to the demands of the Kurds.
Picture: Atatürk
Source: Turkish Embassy, Paris
Cappadocia
The area is a famous and popular tourist destination, for its unique geological, historic and cultural features. The Cappadocia region is largely underlain by sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and streams, and ignimbrite deposits erupted from ancient volcanoes approximately 9 to 3 million years ago (late Miocene to Pliocene epochs). The rocks of Cappadocia near Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms. The volcanic deposits are soft rocks that the people of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out to form houses, churches, monasteries. Göreme became a monastic center between 300-1200 AD. First period settlement in Göreme reaches to the Roman period from Christianity. Yusuf Koç, Ortahane, Durmus Kadir and Bezirhane churches in Göreme, houses and churches carved into rocks till to Uzundere, Bağıldere and Zemi Valley carries the mystical side of history today. The Göreme Open Air Museum is the most visited site of the monastic communities in Cappadocia and is one of the most famous sites in central Turkey. It is a complex comprising more than 30 rock-carved churches and chapels containing some superb frescoes, dating from the 9th to the 11th centuries.
Picture: Cappadocia region near by Nevsehir
Source: Turkish Embassy, Paris
Did you know?
A famous insult
“Bachi-Bouzouk” the infamous insult of Captain Haddock is a Turkish word which means “vagrant.” The expression referred to rebel soldiers of late Ottoman Empire.
The Tulip
The tulip, which gets its name from its form which resembles that of a turban can be found growing wild throughout Turkey.
Picture: Beach near by Antalya
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Source: Turkish Embassy, Paris
