Republic of Turkey

   The Republic of Turkey is situated near the middle east and Europe. Bordering 8 countries: Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Syria. Turkey is also bordered by several important seas: Black sea to the north, Agean sea to the west and Mediteranean  sea to the south. It controls the important Turkish strait that supplies Russia and other Black sea bordering countries. The strait is controlled by the Turkish gov (Montreux Convention Since 1936). United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which entered into force in November 1994, has prompted calls for the Montreux Convention to be revised and adapted to make it compatible with UNCLOS's regime governing straits used for international navigation. However, Turkey's long-standing refusal to sign UNCLOS has meant that Montreux remains in force without further amendments. This strait has been a discussion since the Cold War and even during the Ottoman Empire. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreux_Convention_Regarding_the_Regime_of_the_Turkish_Straits

Facts
This is the Republic of Turkey's official flag. The symbol is a symbol is the Islamic faith. Representing the large Islam faith that Turkey is based on since old times
-Official Language:Turkish.
-Largest city: Istanbul
-The Population of Turkey is 74.7million (18th in the world).
-Government of Turkey is democratic Parliamentary republic.
-President: Abdullah Gul
-Declaration of Independence: Oct 29, 1923
-Nominal GDP 2010: 15th in the World (Similar to Canada, Iran, Taiwan, Indonesia, Australia)
-Per Capita GDP: $14,106 (Around 60th Similar to Latvia and Romania and Mexico )
-Human Development Index: 0.699 (92nd, At a scale of 1.0)
-75 % Population live in Urban cities
-76% Turks, 15% Kurds, 8% Other (Arabs, Greeks, Jews...)
-96% Islamic Religion

International Influence
Founding member of UN, OECD, G-20, OIC, OSCE, ECO,
Turkey is currently elected non-permanent member of the Security Council in UN.
Turkey does not recognize Republic of Cyprus (Member of the EU) and is the only country that recognizes The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (est 1983, main conflict with Greece and the EU).
  Ties with EU is intensive and is applying for full membership. Center of Foreign Policy attention.
Strong ties with the U.S., Joined NATO 1952.

Economy
1983 transformed into a Market economy through reforms. With increased foreign loans and gov corruption, Turkey experienced inflation and recession during 90's to 2001. After financial reforms in 2001, Turkey has gotten much better with lower unemployment rates, less inflatation, and more foreign investments.
Tourism, manufacturing, banking, automobile, ship construction, minerals, electronics plays large part in the economy.
Turkey has a Free-trade-agreement with the EU.

Links to various Websites
1.      Financial Markets and Globalization in Turkey (PDF University of Istanbul)
http://www.luc.edu/orgs/meea/volume1/arin.pdf
2.      National Intelligence Organization (MIT-turkey secret police)
http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/turkey/mit.htm
3.      Turkey Accession to the EU (Wiki)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accession_of_Turkey_to_the_European_Union
4.      Turkey, China set eyes on $100 bln in mutual trade
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-272194-turkey-china-set-eyes-on-100-bln-in-mutual-trade.html
5.      Debt of developing countries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debt_of_developing_countries