Name: Republic of Turkey Area: Approximately 780 thousand sq. km (2.07 times the size of Japan) Approximately 1,600 km east to west; 650 km north to south Population: Approximately 70 million Capital: Ankara Language: Turkish Religion: 99% Muslim 1% Christian, Jewish and others Turkey is a secular state where religious and state affairs are separated. National anthem: İstiklal Marşı National flag: White crescent moon and star on a red background 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 Ahmet Necdet Sezer (seven-year term, elected on 16 May 2000) Legislature: Unicameral system (550 seats / five-year term) Last general elections held on November 3, 2002 Government: Justice and Development Party (AKP), absolute majority government Prime Minister: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (March 11, 2003) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs: Abdullah Gül (March 11, 2003) Gross National Product: $178 billion (2002 forecast) Per Capita Annual Income: Approximately $ 2,600 Currency: Turkish Lira (TL)   •  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.