Turkey

Turkey

The only NATO member in the Middle East region, Modern Turkey was established in the 1920s from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by nationalist leader Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honoured with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks. Under the authoritarian rule of Kemal Ataturk, the country embraced wide-ranging political, legal and social reforms. The one-party rule gave way to multi-party politics, leading to the victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the smooth transfer of power in 1950. Since then, multiplicity of political parties has been a consistent feature of Turkish polity, but democracy has been interrupted by periods of instability and military coups.
Turkey came into conflict with its close neighbour, Greece, over territorial dispute in the divided island of Cyprus. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), now known as the People's Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK), launched a separatist movement in 1984 for an ethnic homeland in the predominantly Kurdish southeast. The rebel attacks have subsided after 1999 when the group's leader, Abdullah Ocalan, was captured.
Travel overview
Turkey is an immensely rewarding place to travel for not only its contradictions but also the hospitality and friendliness of its people.

A country with a multiple identity Turkey is a large country offering diverse landscapes and activities. Throughout the country, a more distant past makes its presence felt. Ankara, Turkey's capital, is a modern city. Istanbul is Turkey’s cultural and commercial city while Antalya, located on the Mediterranean coast, is one of the fastest-growing cities of the country. The resort of Bodrum attracts visitors in large number. The ancient sites of Ephesus and Bergama have been tourists’ mecca since the eighteenth century.

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is well worth a visit. For wildlife enthusiasts, the Göreme National Park provides an amazing variety of wildlife. All of these make travel in Turkey a rewarding experience.