Country Turkey. Economy of Turkey. Flag of Turkey - photo

In the south-western part of Asia there is a wonderful country. Turkey (officially called the Republic of Turkey) was established in 1923, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The monarchy was abolished, the territory became a national state with a predominance of the Turkish ethnos.

Most of the country in question is located on the Armenian plateau and the Anatolian Peninsula, and the smaller part is between the Mediterranean and Black Seas (on the Balkan Peninsula).

Neighboring countries

Briefly describe the borders of Turkey. So, in the east the state adjoins Azerbaijan and Armenia, in the west - to Greece, in the south - to Iran, Iraq and Syria. And where are the northern borders of Turkey? The map suggests that they extend right up to the Black Sea. The country is washed by three more seas: the Mediterranean, the Marble and the Aegean.

Armed forces

The army of Turkey is represented by a combination of troops whose purpose is to protect freedom, territorial integrity and independence of the country. According to the data for 2011, its number was 720 thousand people. In addition, the state has a military-trained reserve of 90,000 people, of which 38,000 are in reserve of the first stage.

The army of Turkey is manned by the draft system. The period of compulsory military service can vary from six to fifteen months. The conscript age is twenty years. After the dismissal from the army, the citizens are kept in stock up to forty-five years. According to local legislation, in wartime, not only men of 16-60 years of age, but also women of 20-46 years old can be called up.

Operational control of the armed forces is carried out by the General Staff under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief appointed by the President of the country. He is subordinated to the commanders-in-chief of the land forces, naval forces, gendarmerie and coast guard.

The economic situation

Currently, market relations prevail in the country. The economy of Turkey is constantly liberalizing: state-owned enterprises are being privatized, which opens new opportunities for foreign investors in the domestic market.

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the country experienced an economic crisis. Experts call it the heaviest for the entire period of the development of the state in conditions of comprehensive liberalization. Thus, GNP in solid prices fell by 9.5%. However, in 2002, economic growth was restored. For example, GNP rose by 7.1%.

The main creditors of the country are the World Bank and the IMF. The economy of Turkey is constantly fueled by loans. So, only from 2000 to 2005 the country received 30 billion dollars.

At least twenty percent of citizens are below the poverty line. At the same time, the minimum wage in 2013 was 405 euros.

Industry of the country

In Turkey, active work is carried out to develop and expand the textile, metallurgical, food, chemical, engineering and mining industries.

Oil production in the country can not be called sufficient for domestic consumption. State enterprises with the support of foreign capital perform search operations. The most significant region in this respect is South-Eastern Anatolia. Due to the fact that the deposits are located in remote areas, transportation and production costs are constantly increasing.

The country is a serious exporter of chrome ore. In addition, copper, tungsten, uranium and manganese ore, mercury, sulfur, borates, gold and silver are mined.

The electronic industry of Turkey is developing at a noticeable rate. So, the mass production of radio, television and telephone equipment, computers and many other equipment has been established in the country. The leading place among the exported products is occupied by electronic thermometers.

Political situation

At present, a vivid and very dynamic process of struggle between those who want to take the leading position in the parties can be observed in the political arena of the country. All of them set as their goal the right to determine the vector of the foreign and domestic policies of the state.

The modern society of Turkey is engaged in a profound rethinking of the ideological heritage that Kemal Ataturk, the first president and founder of the republic, left. The reins of government are in the hands of members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). They stand for the protection of Islamist principles and make appropriate adjustments to the country's domestic and foreign policies. Their main rivals are the following parties: People's Republic (declares adherence to the principles of Kemal Ataturk) and the Party of nationalistic action (the head is Devlet Bahceli).

The policy of Turkey (both internal and external) is beginning to interest the international community more and more. The reason is the fact that this state is gaining weight in the international arena and has an active economic position.

President of Turkey

Now the country is ruled by Jumukh Abdullah Gul. He is a doctor of economic sciences. Gul showed himself as a successful diplomat and politician. It operates effectively, while quickly orienting itself in the permanently changing conditions of the socio-political atmosphere. Since August 28, 2007, Gul is the elected president of Turkey. Now the country is preparing for new elections, which are scheduled for August 10, 2014.

State Symbols

Naturally, this sunny country also has its own flag, emblem and anthem. Turkey has a red flag with a crescent and a star, which are symbols of Islam. The history of the origin of the flag has more than one interpretation. The only undeniable fact is that the country inherited the symbolism from the Ottoman Empire, the color of which was red. The star first appeared on the flag only in the early nineteenth century. At first it was depicted with seven or eight ends. And what does the flag of Turkey look like now? The photos show a red canvas with a five-pointed star and a half moon. It is noteworthy that shortly before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, there were three stars on the flag. The modern version was approved in 1923. Thirteen years later, the proportions of 2: 3 were officially approved.

Turkey's coat of arms before the beginning of the twentieth century was represented by a green circle and a month against the backdrop of the star's rays. Under the latter there was a shield decorated with golden months and stars, and also crowned with a sultan's headdress - a turban. On both sides of the arms were banners. One of them is red (Ottoman dynasty), the other is green (Islam). In addition, the coat of arms depicted the trophies of the empire, obtained in the war.

As for modern Turkey, it does not have an official state emblem. Instead, the emblem is most often used - an oval of red color with a vertically arranged white crescent and a star. This symbol is supplemented by the official name of the country, written in Turkish.

As for the hymn entitled "Istiklal Marcy" ("March of Independence"), it was officially recognized national in 1921. The words were written by the poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy. Initially, the author of the music was Ali Rifat Kagatai. His melody was used for eight years. Later, the musical accompaniment was changed. At the present time, during the performance of the anthem, the melody of Zeki Ungor - the conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra sounds.

Symbols are deeply revered by the citizens of the country. It is located not only in private and public institutions, but also in the households of citizens.

Legislation

Going on vacation, do not forget to ask how the country stands out in terms of bans and permits. Turkey is a hospitable state, but the law is one for all. So, since recently smoking is forbidden in public places and transport (even in a taxi, not to mention buses). For violation of this rule, a fine of sixty-two Turkish liras (about thirty dollars) will be issued.

The laws of Turkey regarding the storage, transportation and use of narcotic drugs are very strict. So, for violation of the established prohibitions you can get into jail for a period of four to twenty-four years.

It is not allowed to export antiques from the country. The main danger for ordinary tourists is that this concept is quite broad. How to protect yourself? It is recommended not to take even the smallest items from the archaeological sites and buy souvenirs only in authorized places. The purchase of any such product must be accompanied by the issuance of a corresponding certificate. The existing papers will need to be presented to the border guards at the exit from the country. The lack of certificates entails the punishment of up to ten years of imprisonment, a simple confiscation can not be dispensed with.

To the crime in Turkey, the insult of the state flag, the damage of local money resources and the disrespectful attitude to the images of the founder of the country Mustafa Kemal Ataturk are equated.

Wherever you are, you must carry your photo ID with you. Fear for the safety of documents is understandable, therefore it is allowed to present, for example, not a passport, but a photocopy.

Before photographing local residents, you must definitely get permission to do so. The country's legislation does not regulate how to dress, but rules that have been established for centuries should not be violated. It is not recommended to open your legs and shoulders.

Traditions and customs

Despite the fact that geographically Russia and Turkey are not far from each other, there is a whole gap between the cultures of these countries. So, the overwhelming majority of the local population (no less than eighty percent) professes Islam. This culture literally permeates every aspect of life. Religion determines the peculiarities of life and communication.

The first thing that surprises foreign tourists, this is the stressed politeness of communication. The Turks still adhere to traditional views on the expression of respect for others. You will surely hear in your address a lot of compliments, and it is better to respond to them with reciprocity, not stinting on pleasant words.

Wedding customs of Turkey amaze visitors with its splendor and solemnity. The rite of joining two loving hearts is surely accompanied by matchmaking and betrothal. At the same time the celebration lasts not less than several days. To some ancient traditions, modern Turks have followed up to now. Among them, "Night of Henna" (the bride's hands are covered with wonderful patterns, while using the paint from henna) and "Belt of virginity" (the bride's father ties a scarlet ribbon over the wedding dress).

No Turkish holiday can be imagined without rhythmic movements under national melodies. In this case, there are more than two thousand varieties of dances. Depending on the region, they are different and costumes, and choreography, and rhythm.

Culture

Consider such areas as literature, architecture, theater, music, the Internet and cinematography.

The roots of Turkish literature go back to antiquity. Thus, the earliest accurately dated works are the works of Ahmed Farikh, which appeared in the thirteenth century. It is not surprising that Ottoman literature is religious in nature and follows the requirements of Islam. Researchers note that its development was influenced in some time by the traditions of Arabic and Persian literature.

A truly unique genre is the court poetry of the Ottoman period. Among the characteristic features of Turkish writing are the folklore traditions. Especially in this respect, they mention tales of Khoja Nasreddin and a heroic epic (both verbally and in written form). As for contemporary Turkish literature, it develops under the influence of Western literature.

Architecture

The history of Turkish architecture is divided into three periods: Seljuk (XII-XIII centuries), Ottoman (XIV-XIX centuries) and modern. The tradition of building buildings in due time was influenced by the architecture of Iran, Byzantium and Egypt. At present, the main features of the Turkish style are simplicity and functionality. Most of the buildings are built in the style of modernism. Among the founders of the modern school of architecture are Clemens Holtzmeyer Onata and Sedat Hakim Eldem.

Theater

In the sixteenth century, the inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire learned about what a shadow theater is. This entertainment has gained unprecedented popularity. In the plays, not only puppets and puppets were used, but also scenery, and special lighting effects. All these techniques made it possible to create the illusion that the stage space is multidimensional. From the middle of the nineteenth century, the theater developed under the universal influence of Western culture. The founder of the Turkish drama is considered Ibrahim Shinashi, and the theater - Hakob Vardovyan.

Music

The origins of musical traditions should be sought in the early Middle Ages, when the Seljuk Turks, who migrated from Central Asia, populated the peninsula. Naturally, in new territories their culture has entered into interaction with Armenian and Greek. A characteristic feature of the musical traditions of the time was a pentatonic - a special five-step interval system. All the sounds in it can be arranged by pure quanta or / and quarters.

During the period of the Ottoman Empire, a new genre was formed - military orchestral music, which accompanied many campaigns and conquering campaigns. The modern musical culture of Turkey is influenced by the West. So, young people are especially popular with rock and pop, as well as jazz. Many Turkish performers are known far beyond the country, among them Mustafa Sandala, Hande Jener, Tarkan, Serdar Ortac and Sertab Erner.

The World Wide Web

The spread of the Internet played a significant role in the cultural life of the country. Thus, the population of small towns, remote provinces and villages received access to educational and entertainment information. On numerous sites you can find works of Turkish writers and poets, newspapers also have their electronic resources. The number of Internet users in the past decade has grown 10 times. Currently, the capacity of the World Wide Web is used by 26.5 million Turks.

The world of cinema

About the cinema in the territory of modern Turkey was known even before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. So, the first documentary was submitted to the audience in 1914. Its author is Fuat Uziknai. In a short tape, the destruction of a monument erected in the suburbs of Constantinople in honor of the San Stefano peace treaty was shown. The shooting of the first feature film ("The Wedding of Himmeta Aga") was completed in 1918.

At present, it can be argued that Turkey has achieved success not only on the cinematographic, but also in the television field. The programs created in this country are very popular outside of it.

Features of local cuisine

What else is interesting about the country in question? Turkey strikes travelers with unusual culinary traditions, and all because the cooking process at different times was influenced by the Turks, Armenians, Greeks, Arabs and Italians.

The most famous local dishes are kababpchis and shish-kebabs (calf on a spit). In addition, pizza is very popular in Turkey. An integral component of many dishes is olive oil. A special attitude of local residents to desserts and sweets. Usually such delicacies are full of nuts and fruits. Among the drinks, Turkish coffee is the most important. Tea, wine and rakia (grape brandy with anise flavor) are equally popular.

Conclusion

Turkey is an amazing country with a difficult history. It attracts millions of travelers and lovers of antiquity. And all thanks to unique recreational resources and numerous historical sights.