TURKEY IN BRIEF

Name: Republic of Turkey

Extension: Approximately 780 thousand sq. kms Approximately 1,600 kms East to West; 650 kms North to South

Population: 67.84 million (October 2000 National Census)

Capital: Ankara

Language: Turkish

Religion: 99% Muslim, 1% Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Protestans and other. Turkey is a secular state where religious and state affairs are separated.

National Anthem: Istiklal Marsi (“The Independence Hymn”)

National Flag: White crescent moon and a star on a red background.

Historical Outline:

1299: Establishment of the Ottoman Empire 1922: Fall of the Ottoman Empire

1923: Proclamation of the Republic of Turkey on October 29

( First President: Mustafa Kemal ATATURK)

POLITICS

Form of Government: Republic (Established on October 29, 1923, by Mustafa Kemal

ATATÜRK , founder of modern Turkey) Turkey has been holding freely contested multi-party elections since 1946.

Head of State: President Abdullah GÜL ( Selected 2007)

Legislature: Unicameral system (550 seats / five-year term) Last general elections held on November 3, 2002

Party (AKP), absolute majority government Prime Minister: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (March 11, 2003)

( First President: Mustafa Kemal ATATURK)

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT TURKEY

Work Hours

Banks are open weekdays from 8:30 am until noon or 12:30 am, depending on the bank, and from 1:30 am until 5.00 am. However, there are some banks which continue to serve during lunch breaks.

Museums are generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 am until 5.00 am or 5:30 pm and closed on Monday. Palaces are open the same hours but are closed on Thursdays. For specific information on museums, please visit our museums section.

Shops and bazaars are normally open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 1.00 pm and from 2.00 pm to 7.00 pm, and closed all day on Sunday. But most stores in shopping malls and crowded streets are open seven days a week, including lunch breaks.

You can find restaurants or cafes open virtually at any time of the day or night.

SOME OTHER FACTS ABOUT TURKEY

• 
  In terms of population, Turkey is the second largest country in Europe (after Germany ), with 70 million people. In 2020, it is projected to be the most populous European country, with a population of 83 million.
  Four million Turks live abroad. Of that number, almost 2.5 million live in Germany .
  Geographically, Turkey straddles two continents, Europe in the west and Asia in the east.
  The two continents are divided by the Istanbul and Dardanelles straits, which are located in Turkey .
  Turkey is unique in being on the one hand Balkan and European, and on the other, Middle Eastern, Caucasian and Asian. It is also as much a Black Sea country as it is an Aegean and Mediterranean one.
  Another unique aspect of Turkey is the fact that it is the only democratic, secular country among the Muslim nations of the Middle East .
  In addition to being a pioneering country in the Islamic world, Turkey has also become fully integrated into Europe since 1923, when the Republic was established. She is a member of almost all European/European-related institutions, such as the Council of Europe, OSCE, NATO, OECD. Turkey has been an associate member of the European Union since 1963 and a candidate for full membership in the Union since 1999.
  Turkey has the second biggest Army in NATO after the United States .
  Turkey also entertains relations of strategic cooperation with the United States .
  Turkey lies in close proximity to 70 percent of the world's proven energy resources and is a prospective regional centre for storage and distribution of oil and natural gas.
  Turkey is among the world's 20 largest economies and she is a member of the Group of 20 countries.
  The Turkish economy has been identified as being one of the 10 significant emerging markets by U.S. sources.
  Turkey is a prominent producer and exporter of many commodities. Here are some examples:
  Turkey is the leading cement producer in Europe and the seventh-ranked producer in the world.
  Turkey is the second-ranked producer of glass-made items in Europe and fourth-ranked producer in the world.
  Turkey has 40% of the world marble reserves.
  Turkey is the second-ranked exporter of jewelry in the world.
  Turkey is the world's leading supplier of processed leather.
  Turkey is the second-ranked supplier of textiles and garments to the EU.
  Turkey is the fifth-ranked carpet exporter in Europe.
  Turkey is the sixth-ranked cotton producer in the world.
  Turkey is the world's principal supplier of hazelnuts, chickpeas, fresh and dried figs, and apricots.
  Turkey is the second-ranked supplier of cherry and watermelon in the world.
  Turkey is the second-ranked producer of pine tree honey in the world.
  Turkey is the second-ranked supplier of red lentils in the world.
  Turkey is the third-ranked producer of tomatoes and second-ranked producer of tomato paste in the world.
  Turkey is the third-ranked producer of olives and fourth-ranked producer and exporter of olive oil in the world.

HOW DO I MAKE CALLS?

To make calls from your mobile phone in Turkey , please dial by following these guidelines.

• 
  To call another Turkcell subscriber: Dial 0, the network code, and then the seven-digit number; 0 53x xxx xxxx
  To call a fixed line within Turkey : Dial 0, the tree-digit area code, and then the seven digit number; 0 xxx xxx xxxx.
  To call another GSM operator in Turkey : Dial 0, the operator's three-digit network code and then the seven-digit number ; 0 xxx xxxx
  To call an international GSM number: Dial the international prefix + the country code the GSM Network code and then the mobile number.
  To call an international fixed line: Dial the international prefix + the country code the area code and then the phone number.
  To send an SMS to a domestic GSM subscriber: After writing your message dial 0 xxx xxx xxxx
  To send an SMS to an international GSM number: After writing your message dial the international prefix + the country code the GSM network code and then the mobile number.