Preface Last Updated: 10/1/2003
11:30 AM
No other nation spans two continents, incorporating such
topographical diversity, so many strata of archeological wonders,
and as much disparate natural beauty as Turkey. The northern Black
Sea shores are cool and green, interspersed with lush rain forests
and alpine mountains, while the hot, southern coasts are lined with
magnificent Rocky Mountains reaching down to beaches varying from
pebbles to smooth, white sand. The flat Anatolian Plateau is
interrupted here and there by lakes and hills or low mountains. The
eastern portion of the country has alkaline volcanic lakes and is
characterized by desert-like sparseness and impressive, stark
mountains.
Amidst this natural setting are nestled countless artifacts,
proof of the extraordinary role this land has played throughout
history — from biblical Mount Ararat, a pilgrimage site for climbers
in search of Noah’s Ark, to the incomparable vitality and bustle of
Istanbul. To come upon the natural “fairy chimneys” of Cappadocia,
whose distinctive stone hills were carved out to create dwellings,
churches, and monasteries, some still ornate with age-old frescoes,
or to crawl through the underground troglodyte cities nearby, is to
imagine a civilization like none other. To see the exquisite riches
of the ancient Hittite civilizations and the imposing amphitheaters
of old is, simply, to delight in the history of man.
To live in Turkey is not just to be tempted by the infinite sites
to explore or seas to sail. It is to indulge in the delectable
cuisine; to shop, bargaining for carpets, “kilims,” and copperware;
and, always, to be challenged and surprised. Turks are among the
world’s most gracious, hospitable people (except when driving). Yet
the Turks have a society in which old and new, West and East,
various ethnic groups and religious strains struggle to live
harmoniously that has become second nature to them. Infinite
proverbs and polite phrases, known to all Turks, serve as a
universal tonic when times are bad and shared salutations in happy
moments. They indicate a bond between the common good and the will
to develop and persevere as a nation despite all the difficulties
and divisions the country confronts.
Turkey’s importance has not diminished with the end of the Cold
War. As successor to the vast and influential Ottoman Empire, the
modern Republic of Turkey lies in a position strategic to the
interests of many nations, including the U.S., whose futures depend
to some greater or lesser extent on Turkey’s future. Turkey borders
the Middle East, the newly independent states of the Caucasus and
central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean; its
international influence is substantial. Domestically, Turkey
struggles with chronically high inflation, an oversized public
sector, and the need to support and capture a large unofficial
economy. The country endeavors to balance the aspirations of its
citizens of Kurdish descent and its conflict with the separatist
terrorists of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), and to contend
with difficult neighbors on all sides. Turkey’s politics and economy
are complicated and intriguing; no Foreign Service officer could
possibly be bored in Turkey.
Atatürk, the founder and father of modern Turkey, coined the
still popular saying, “Ne mutlu Türküm diyene” (“Happy is he who
says, “I am a Turk.”). A foreigner will never fully comprehend what
it means to be a Turk, nor will a foreigner ever feel he or she has
learned all this country has to offer. It is a fascinating place
with endless challenges for the outsider. The first thing a newcomer
to Turkey is likely to hear is “Hos Geldiniz”(“Welcome.”). Most find
it a pleasure to respond sincerely with the traditional “Hos Bulduk”
(“Pleased to be here.”).
The Host Country
Area, Geography, and Climate Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:31 AM
Aside from Russia, Turkey is the largest country in Europe. Its
296,185 square miles lie between the Aegean, Black, and
Mediterranean Seas. It stretches about 950 miles from west to east
and 400 miles from north to south. Thrace, the European portion of
Turkey, ends at the Bosphorus Strait where Anatolia and Asia begin.
Anatolia is a high plateau bounded by the Pontic Mountains on the
north, the Taurus Mountains on the south, and stretches to the peak
of Mount Ararat (nearly 17,000 feet high) among the Caucasus
Mountains in the east. Mountain ranges give way to narrow coastal
plains on the northeast and south, and to treeless valleys between
rolling hills and low mountains in the center.
The climate varies a great deal across Turkey. Precipitation is
highest on the Black Sea, where, in Rize, an average of 98 inches of
rain falls each year. Ankara averages only 14 inches (chiefly
accumulating from November to May), and Antalya on the south coast
gets about 28 inches. Istanbul has an average of 25 inches of annual
precipitation. The plateau region has hot with very dry summers and
temperatures in July that range from the mid-70s to the low 90s. The
skies are almost always clear and cloudless during the day and
nights are cool. Winters in this region are generally windy and cold
(the mean temperature for January is 30°F). Around the Sea of
Marmara and Istanbul, the average temperature is 83°F in July and
35°F in January. The south coast has long summers that are often hot
and humid both night and day in the midsummer months (the average
temperature in mid-August is 94°F), but it is very pleasant in
spring and autumn. Winters in the south are usually fairly mild. The
north coast Black Sea region tends to have cooler summers and warmer
winters than the other coastal areas.
Turkey’s variety of climates allows for the production of a large
diversity of crops, from subtropical bananas, figs, tobacco, cotton,
and citrus fruits to cereal grains on the plateau and tea on the wet
Black Sea coast.
Population Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:36 AM
Turkey’s population of 64.5 million is increasingly becoming
urban. According to the 2000 census, just 35% of the population
lives in rural areas. Much of this rural out-migration originates in
the underdeveloped east; especially areas in the southeast
previously affected by the PKK insurgency. Villagers continue to
flock to the country’s three-largest cities: Istanbul, Ankara, and
Izmir. According to official figures, they account for approximately
¼ of the country’s population, though unofficial estimates put that
number at closer to 1/3. Overall, however, annual growth rate
dropped to 1.5%, from 2.1% for the previous census period. Rural
migrants continue to face hardship in adjusting to city life, with
life in squatter areas increasingly becoming detached from the
cities they surround.
The 1923 Lausanne Treaty helped define the nature of Turkish
society. It gave a special status to three religious minorities in
Turkey: Greek Orthodox, Armenian, and Jews (most of whose ancestors
had been accepted as refugees by the Ottoman Empire in 1492 after
they were expelled from Spain). The treaty, which Turkey still
respects, defined all others in Turkey, the vast majority, simply as
Muslims. It recognized neither ethnic nor sectarian divisions in
this ethnically and religiously heterodox state.
Over 99% of Turks are Muslims; the vast majority are Sunni, but
there is a significant population of Turkish Alevis (whose beliefs
are akin to those of Shi’a Muslims but whose religious practices are
much less rigid), and among the Sunnis, a large number are attached
to mystical Sufi brotherhoods. It is noticeable, especially in the
large cities, how minimally the strictures of Islam affect the lives
of some Turks. Many drink alcohol, do not restrict their diets, and
rarely, if ever, attend prayer. In the cities, women can be seen in
attire that fully covers them, head to toe, walking alongside
relatively scantily clad women wearing the latest in Western
fashions. Inhabitants of rural areas are much more conservative.
Despite the official nonrecognition of ethnic identity as a
legitimate organizing principle, many Turkish citizens are becoming
increasingly aware of their ethnic origins. The collapse of the Iron
Curtain allowed Turks to reconnect with the homelands in the former
Soviet Union their ancestors had been forced to abandon in the 19th
century. Recent civil war in the Balkans, a former Ottoman domain,
has awakened long-dormant feelings of connection. The rise of
Kurdish nationalism also triggered various ethnic groups to
rediscover their roots.
By some estimates, the population of the Turkish Republic at its
inception included people from as many as 80 different ethnic
backgrounds; but as the Republic’s founder Atatürk maintained, one
and all are “Turks.” Turkish is the only official language, but
large numbers of ethnic Kurds and Arabs continue to speak those
languages as a mother tongue. The government long insisted on the
exclusive use of Turkish as a tool to build and unite the nation.
There have been recent calls to liberalize this policy in order to
strengthen Turkey’s bid for membership in the European Union.
Ethnic Kurds constitute Turkey’s largest ethnic and linguistic
subgroup and number as many as 12 million. Turkey’s southeastern
region is mainly Kurdish, though more than half of the Kurds in
Turkey now live outside of this area. Between 1984–99, the southeast
had been an area of great unrest due to clashes between Turkish
government forces and the PKK, a separatist terrorist group seeking
to establish an independent Kurdish state encompassing much of
southeastern Turkey as well as parts of Iran, Iraq, and Syria. With
the capture and trial of PKK leader Öcalan in 1999, that conflict
has largely subsided.
Public Institutions Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:39 AM
Mustafa Kemal, a Turkish World War I hero, later known as
“Atatürk” or “Father of the Turks,” founded the Republic of Turkey
in 1923 after the collapse of the 600-year-old Ottoman Empire. At
its peak, the Ottoman Empire stretched from southern Spain and
Morocco in the west to Saudi Arabia and Iran in the east, and almost
to Vienna in the north.
The Empire weakened over time as it failed to keep up with
European social and technological developments and came under
pressure from other powers. The rise of nationalism within the
Empire impelled numerous groups to seek independence, leading to the
Empire’s fragmentation. This process culminated in the Empire’s
disastrous participation in World War I as a German ally.
Turkey was defeated and in the postwar Treaty of Sevres was
reduced to a rump state limited to what is now the central part of
modern Turkey. European forces even occupied parts of Anatolia, a
fact that many Turks still bitterly remember. Turkish nationalists,
however, rallied under Atatürk’s leadership, and expelled invading
Greek forces from Anatolia after a bitter war. The victorious Turks
repudiated the Treaty of Sevres and signed the Treaty of Lausanne,
which, with some later modifications, recognized the Republic of
Turkey in its present day borders.
Atatürk, supported by urban elites, many landed notables, and,
most importantly, his wartime followers, abolished the Ottoman
structure and abolished the temporal and religious ruling
institutions of the old Empire (the Sultanate and the Caliphate). In
its place, he established a republic with secularism, nationalism,
modernization, and a European orientation as its guiding principles.
Social, political, linguistic, and economic reforms and attitudes
introduced by Atatürk before his death in 1938 continue to have
strong influence in Turkey today.
The Turkish Grand National Assembly, Turkey’s Parliament, opened
in 1920. Atatürk was its first speaker. The Turkish Republic was
formally established in 1923. Atatürk announced the goals of “Peace
at Home, Peace in the World,” a slogan that has defined Turkish
foreign policy ever since.
Turkey stayed neutral through much of World War II, entering on
the Allied side shortly before the war ended. Demands by the Soviet
Union for military bases in the Turkish Straits, combined with
difficulties faced by Greece after World War II in quelling a
Communist rebellion, prompted the U.S. to declare the Truman
Doctrine in 1947. The doctrine enunciated American intentions to
guarantee the security of Turkey and Greece and resulted in large
scale U.S. military and economic aid. Turkey joined the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1952 after participating with
UN forces in the Korean conflict.
One-party rule under Atatürk’s leadership gave way to multiparty
democracy in 1950. Domestic political crises sparked military
interventions in 1960, 1973, and 1980, but in each case the military
returned power to civilians in a relatively short period of time.
Civilian governments have ruled continuously since 1983.
The present structure of the Turkish State was established by the
military sponsored 1982 Constitution, which has been amended several
times by civilian governments. Parliament is continuing a series of
constitutional reforms intended to bring Turkey's legal framework
closer to EU criteria. There are executive and legislative branches
and an independent judiciary. There are approximately 50 political
parties today, three of which are represented in parliament. There
are 550 members of the single-chamber parliament. The voting age is
18. Elections must be held at least every 5 years. The President,
currently Ahmet Necdet Sezer, serves one 7-year term. Sezer was
elected by Parliament in 2000. A constitutionally mandated National
Security Council, which has a slight preponderance of civilian
members but provides a forum for the Turkish General Staff to put
forth its views forcefully, advises the government on security
issues.
The political spectrum is complex, even though few major issues
divide the competing right-of-center and left-of-center parties.
Islam-influenced AK (Justice and Development) Party won an
almost-two-thirds majority of seats in November 2002 elections,
leaving left-of-center CHP (Republican People’s Party) a distant
second, with once-predominant DYP (True Path Party) holding only one
seat.
Turkey is a secular Muslim democracy. First applying to the
European Economic Community (now the European Union) in 1963, Turkey
joined the EU Customs Union as of 1996. In 1999, the EU invited
Turkey to become a candidate for membership. Commencement of
accession negotiations, however, depends on Turkey’s passing and
implementing more legal reforms, including amending the
constitution.
Turkey is increasing its ties with the newly independent states
of the former Soviet Union, especially those with a shared Turkish
culture and history. Turkey continues to play an important role in
efforts to resolve regional conflicts in Iraq, the Middle East, the
Caucasus, the Balkans, and Cyprus. It has long been a NATO member
and lies astride what could become key pipeline routes to transfer
oil and natural gas from the Caucasus and central Asia to Western
markets.
Arts, Science, and Education Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:41 AM
Turks maintain a high regard for the arts, both for their own
traditional heritage and for creativity beyond their borders. While
Istanbul is by far the more sophisticated city, Ankara enjoys an
active cultural arena of its own. Ankara has eight state owned
theaters, one of which is dedicated to opera and ballet (and
includes a modern dance company). The state companies are energetic
and creative given its tight budgets, and their performances are
well worth the nominal fee for tickets. A number of private theaters
offer other forms of entertainment. Both Ankara and Istanbul have
annual performing arts festivals that host a great variety of
artists, both local and from abroad. Istanbul’s International
Festival of Culture and the Arts bring in renowned artists from
across the globe to perform in its many theaters. Ankara, Istanbul,
and Izmir each have a symphony orchestra that gives regular
concerts.
Turkish folk dancing and singing performances can be seen
throughout the country. The numerous ethnic groups in Turkey make
for a colorful array of dances and songs. Each December brings a
week long festival in Konya, where the Mevlevi order of dervishes,
known as the “Whirling Dervishes,” twirls in long, white robes and
hats to the ethereal music of the Turkish flute.
The Ankara and Izmir Turkish American Associations (TAA) schedule
cultural presentations by American and Turkish artists as well as
lectures, tours, hobby clubs, discussion groups, and film showings.
Of special interest among the activities carried on by other
cultural centers in Ankara is the French Cine Club, which regularly
screens recent French films. The British, German, and Italian
cultural centers also sponsor concerts, lectures, and performances
by national artists. Museums, diplomatic cultural centers, and
galleries hold art exhibits in major cities.
Archeological excavations are underway in various parts of
Turkey. Gordion (within 100 kilometers of Ankara), Sardis, and
Aphrodisias are among centers of archeological work on ruins dating
from Hittite through Ottoman times. Among these enticing sites are
Ephesus (Efes), Bergama, and Troy in western Turkey.
Turkey has made great strides in establishing a modern
educational system since the Ottoman religious school system was
abolished in the early years of the Republic. Primary and secondary
public education is free and coeducational. Eight years of schooling
is compulsory. In the large cities, the system offers primary,
secondary, and university education; but some villages still lack
even a primary school.
Most major cities have private secondary schools with curriculums
in English, French, or German. The adult literacy rate in Turkey is
about 81%.
Turkey has 71 universities, 54 state-supported and 17 private, as
well as a number of technical schools. The first private university,
Bilkent University, was established in 1986 using English as its
medium. Both Baskent University in Ankara and Koç University in
Istanbul were established in 1993 and are also English medium.
Admission to universities is based on competitive examinations. As
in many countries, children of upper and middleclass families more
frequently receive the secondary school education necessary to pass
university entrance examinations.
Ankara University, Hacettepe University, Middle East Technical
University, (METU), Gazi University, Bilkent University, and Baskent
University, all in Ankara, offer degrees in a broad range of fields,
including the humanities, science, engineering, and, at Ankara
University, agriculture. Several universities offer degrees in
medicine.
Istanbul has seven major universities. The most prominent are
Istanbul University and Istanbul Technical University, Koç
University (noted above), and Bogaziçi (Bosphorus) University, the
oldest English medium university, established in 1971 when the
former Robert College was turned over to the Turkish Government.
Bogaziçi University recently received a grant from the U.S.
Government to establish a J. William Fulbright Chair of American
Studies. To facilitate the success of this program, Bogaziçi will be
given an extensive American Studies library collection. Robert
College continues as a separate, now secondary, institution
supported by the U.S. Government and private sources.
Commerce and Industry Last Updated: 10/1/2003 3:51 PM
From the establishment of the Republic until the early 1980s,
Turkey had an insulated, state directed economy. The early 1980s,
however, brought an economic turnaround based on increased reliance
on market forces, export led development, lower taxes, integration
with the world economy, and privatization. These reforms gave Turkey
the highest average annual growth rates over the past decade of any
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
country.
Turkey’s economy grew on average about 5% per year over the past
10 years, but growth has been volatile over this period,
characterized by a series of sharp upward and downward swings.
Average annual inflation of over 70% exacerbated income disparities
and accentuated the uncertainties that hung over Turkish markets.
Increasing pressure on Turkey’s pegged lira exchange rate led to two
crises of investor confidence in November 2000 and February 2001,
resulting in large capital outflows from Turkish markets. In
reaction to these crises, the Government of Turkey renegotiated its
loan program with the IMF, which substantially increased its level
of support for Turkey in exchange for a strengthened reform program.
One of the key reforms undertaken by Turkey was to move to a
free-floating exchange rate regime. This in turn caused a nearly 50%
depreciation of the lira over several months in early 2001 (though
the lira eventually stabilized and appreciated in real terms during
2002). The year 2001 was a tough year for the Turkish economy.
Continuing lack of investor confidence, and resulting capital
outflows, led to a 9.7% contraction in the economy, and a high
unemployment level of about 12% But throughout 2001 and early 2002,
the Government of Turkey continued its IMF-backed reform program and
re-established significant investor confidence. The macro-economic
results for 2002 were impressive: growth of about 6.5%; inflation
cut in half to 32%. As Turkey enters 2003 under a new Government,
the major economic question is whether the remarkable turn-around
achieved in 2002 will continue.
Turkey’s long-term potential, however, is bright. The structural
reforms being implemented now will establish a solid base for future
growth. Its dynamic private sector and the customs union with the EU
are powerful forces for growth. The fundamentals that made Turkey
the fastest growing country in the OECD during the 1980s have not
changed and, in many respects, have even improved.
Agriculture remains an important sector of the economy as well as
a key focus of U.S. exports. The sector employs 38% of the labor
force. Crops include grains, cotton, hazelnuts, tobacco, fruits, and
vegetables. It is an important market for U.S. tobacco, soybeans and
soybean products, rice, wood logs, cotton for quality blue denim,
tallow for making soap, and breeding and feeder cattle.
In early 1994, the U.S. Department of Commerce designated Turkey
as one of the world’s 10 Big Emerging Markets (BEM’s). The best
commercial prospects for U.S. exporters and investors are in energy,
telecommunications, environment, transport, and textiles.
Energy. The Turkish Government is encouraging foreign companies
to invest in the power sector. Electrical energy demand in Turkey is
growing by approximately 8% per year. Currently, U.S. firms are
pursuing seven Build Operate Transfer power projects. The future is
also bright for suppliers of autogeneration, transmission and
distribution, and renewable energy technology.
Telecommunications. Turkey has an advanced telecommunications
system, most of which was built after 1980. The vast majority of the
system consists of digital equipment and fiber-optic cable. In 2000,
Turkey announced its intention to privatize 99% of the state-run
telecommunications monopoly Türk Telekom, with the state retaining a
single “golden” share. The landline monopoly of Türk Telekom is set
to end in 2005, leaving the market open for competition. Turkey
presently has three GSM cellular phone companies, Türkcell (the
largest), Telsim, and Aria. Türk Telekom was granted a GSM 1800
license as a sweetener for its privatization, but the operations of
its cellular subsidiary Aycell have not yet been launched. The
Internet in Turkey has been stifled by the economic crisis, but has
strong future growth potential. Many of Turkey's successful Internet
service providers are connected to large holding companies and,
therefore, have the backing to undertake large projects. They are
presently disadvantaged, however, by Turkey's Internet
infrastructure, which siphons most traffic through the Türk Telekom-operated
firm TTNet. Privatization of Türk Telekom may help this situation,
however.
Environment. In 1991, a Ministry of Environment was established,
increasing the attention paid to environmental issues. New
regulations regarding sewage, medical waste, and power plant
emissions, among others, will add to the growth of this sector.
Major projects are under development for air quality control, solid
waste disposal, and municipal wastewater treatment and water
provision.
Transport. The Turkish Government gives special priority to major
infrastructure projects in the transport sector. Although most state
investments were put on hold in 1994, the government later announced
the resumption of planning for many airport, port, and highway
projects.
Textiles. The textile sector is Turkey’s largest manufacturing
industry and its largest export sector. Quotas have limited sales in
Western Europe as well as the U.S. These restrictions are to be
removed by January 1, 2005, under the global phase out of textile
quotas called for in the Uruguay Round. Turkey’s textile sector is
highly concentrated on production of cotton items such as bathrobes
and t-shirts. Other principal growth sectors are tourism,
automobiles, and electronics.
Transportation
Automobiles Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:49 AM
Before importation documents can be processed to clear a vehicle
from customs, both the vehicle and owner must have arrived in
Turkey. If the car is shipped by sea, it is advisable to obtain
marine insurance coverage. Arrangements for this may be made through
the U.S. Dispatch Agent or an insurance company in the U.S.
Automobiles are generally shipped to the European Logistical Support
Office (ELSO) Antwerp, Belgium, and then trucked to Turkey.
A car may be driven into Turkey. Customs officials will enter
details of the automobile in your passport at the border crossing
point and provide you with a document that directs you to report to
a customs warehouse at your destination within 48 hours in order to
process importation documents. As soon as you arrive at post, notify
the customs personnel in the General Services Office (GSO). It takes
at least 1½ weeks to clear cars through customs whether or not you
have diplomatic status. If driven, the automobile must be covered by
international third-party liability insurance, commonly referred to
as “green card insurance:”
To complete importation procedures and obtain license plates,
Turkish law requires that the car be covered by Turkish traffic
insurance underwritten by a Turkish insurance company (or a foreign
firm licensed to do business in Turkey), and that the car be in safe
operating condition as certified through an inspection by Turkish
traffic police. Upon arrival of your vehicle, GSO’s Customs Unit
will assist with all formalities, including taking the vehicle for
its initial inspection. The vehicle must be equipped with a first
aid kit, a warning triangle, and, during the winter season, snow
chains. You may wish to ship these items; they also can be purchased
locally.
Some vehicles can be purchased locally, duty free, depending upon
availability at any given time. Locally produced cars are more
economical, and parts are readily available. Customs clearance
formalities for locally purchased cars are the same as for cars
purchased outside Turkey. The Turkish car manufacturer must deliver
the locally purchased car to Turkish customs in the name of the
buyer. The Embassy or Consulate can then clear the car from customs
without paying any customs duties after the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Ankara issues an importation document. The Catch 22 is
that if you want to sell your Turkish manufactured car at the end of
your assignment here, the buyer must then pay customs duties. Since
customs clearance procedures are complicated and time consuming,
Turkish customers generally prefer to buy cars directly from a local
car dealership, even if the price is higher.
As of November 1995, a new law has come into effect prohibiting
the sale of diplomatic vehicles that are more than 2 years old to
those not entitled to tax exemption, which means most Turkish
citizens. Vehicles more than 2 years old may be sold to individuals
in the same tax-exempt status or to other diplomats. The certificate
of ownership determines the age of the car.
Diplomatic personnel must present two identification size
photographs, a Turkish diplomatic identity card, and a valid U.S.
drivers license in order to obtain a Turkish drivers license.
Rental cars are available commercially but are more expensive
than in the U.S. If you plan to drive immediately upon arrival, it
is best to obtain an international drivers license before departing
for post.
Replacement parts for older American and European cars are
generally available locally, but parts for newer models are more
difficult to find. Cars sometimes have difficulty coping with the
relatively poor quality gasoline here. Parts for Renaults, Fiats,
Hondas, and Chevrolets are easy to find in Turkey. We suggest that
employees ship in household effects or send via APO a supply of
basic car parts such as gas filters, shock absorbers, tune-up kits,
plugs, fan belts, and fuses. The U.S. military base exchanges (BX’s)
in Adana and Izmir have very limited stocks of spare parts for U.S.
and some European cars. You may special-order certain parts not
normally in stock, but usually this requires a long wait. Ordering
from parts dealers or manufacturers in the U.S. is also possible,
keeping in mind APO size limitations.
Automobile repair shops all over Turkey are capable of most types
of repairs. Labor charges are relatively low. The quality of work
varies according to the type of job; for instance, electronic
ignition and fuel injection jobs may require a search for a
specialist.
Super grade gasoline (about 96 octane) and unleaded fuel are
available at stations in and near major cities and along main
highways. Regular grade gasoline (about 84 octane) and diesel fuel
are available in all parts of Turkey. AAFES coupons for unleaded and
diesel gasoline are available at the BX at the Ankara Support
Facility.
Roads. Turkey’s main highways are generally well paved and
properly maintained. However, there are traffic hazards such as
slow-moving farm equipment and animals; overloaded trucks, buses,
and cars passing on hills; and vehicle repairs made on the roadway.
When driving in Turkey’s countryside, it is wise to expect the
unexpected. The construction of new superhighways on some frequently
traveled routes (e.g., from Ankara to Istanbul) has improved
cross-country driving considerably. Winter snows and ice require
caution in city and highway driving, and even a light rain can cause
surfaces to become extremely slippery. Traffic moves on the right.
Turkey uses the same international system of road signs as the in
the European Union. Domestic intercity bus service is inexpensive,
extensive, and comfortable.
City streets are crowded with all sorts of vehicles. Streets are
often narrow, and traffic congestion is an increasing problem,
especially in Istanbul and Ankara. Although traffic moves on the
right, “dolmus” (shared minibuses traveling set routes) and regular
taxis, among others, do not always observe this rule or other
traffic regulations such as red lights or one-way roads. This
eccentricity can be confusing and dangerous. Recently published
statistics stated that an average of 15 deaths from traffic
accidents occur daily in Turkey. Even the experienced driver must
always be on the defensive and alert.
Cities have municipal bus systems that are cheap and extensive
but do not necessarily adhere to any set schedule. Dolmus
(minibuses) also run along bus routes for a slightly higher fee.
Taxis are plentiful, convenient, and metered. Dolmus and taxi fares
are fixed.
Rail, Air, and Sea Transportation. Turkish State Railways
provides rail service to many points within Turkey and has routes
connecting to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Direct rail service
is offered from major European cities to Istanbul. Railway service
is usually slower than bus service, but dining and sleeping cars on
domestic lines help make the trip comfortable.
Various airlines provide regular passenger and freight services
to Istanbul, Ankara. Turkish Airlines (THY) flies daily to many
domestic and international destinations. The airport in Istanbul is
the country’s primary international airport. Antalya’s airport is
also a hub, especially for tourist groups in the summer. More than
20 airlines connect Turkey with all parts of the world.
Turkish Maritime Lines provides ferry service for passengers and
automobiles between Europe and Asia in Istanbul (to cross the
Bosphorus) and at Çanakkale (to cross the Dardanelles). Turkish
Maritime Lines also provides service to Adriatic, Aegean, and
Mediterranean seaports. There is a ferry that travels from Venice to
Izmir.
Transportation
Local Transportation Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:52 AM
Turkey’s main highways are generally well paved and properly
maintained. However, there are traffic hazards such as slow-moving
farm equipment and animals; overloaded trucks, buses, and cars
passing on hills; and vehicle repairs made on the roadway. When
driving in Turkey’s countryside, it is wise to expect the
unexpected. The construction of new superhighways on some frequently
traveled routes (e.g., from Ankara to Istanbul) has improved
cross-country driving considerably. Winter snows and ice require
caution in city and highway driving, and even a light rain can cause
surfaces to become extremely slippery. Traffic moves on the right.
Turkey uses the same international system of road signs as the in
the European Union. Domestic intercity bus service is inexpensive,
extensive, and comfortable. City streets are crowded with all sorts
of vehicles. Streets are often narrow, and traffic congestion is an
increasing problem, especially in Istanbul and Ankara. Although
traffic moves on the right, “dolmus” (shared minibuses traveling set
routes) and regular taxis, among others, do not always observe this
rule or other traffic regulations such as red lights or one-way
roads. This eccentricity can be confusing and dangerous. Recently
published statistics stated that an average of 15 deaths from
traffic accidents occur daily in Turkey. Even the experienced driver
must always be on the defensive and alert.
Cities have municipal bus systems that are cheap and extensive
but do not necessarily adhere to any set schedule. Dolmus
(minibuses) also run along bus routes for a slightly higher fee.
Taxis are plentiful, convenient, and metered. Dolmus and taxi fares
are fixed.
Transportation
Regional Transportation Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:52 AM
Turkish State Railways provides rail service to many points
within Turkey and has routes connecting to Europe, the Middle East,
and Asia. Direct rail service is offered from major European cities
to Istanbul. Railway service is usually slower than bus service, but
dining and sleeping cars on domestic lines help make the trip
comfortable. Various airlines provide regular passenger and freight
services to Istanbul, Ankara. Turkish Airlines (THY) flies daily to
many domestic and international destinations. The airport in
Istanbul is the country’s primary international airport. Antalya’s
airport is also a hub, especially for tourist groups in the summer.
More than 20 airlines connect Turkey with all parts of the world.
Turkish Maritime Lines provides ferry service for passengers and
automobiles between Europe and Asia in Istanbul (to cross the
Bosphorus) and at Çanakkale (to cross the Dardanelles). Turkish
Maritime Lines also provides service to Adriatic, Aegean, and
Mediterranean seaports. There is a ferry that travels from Venice to
Izmir.
Communications
Telephones and Telecommunications Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:54
AM
All homes for Embassy personnel have telephones. The lines and
service are generally very good. The Embassy and the Consulate
General in Istanbul maintain switchboards that are open 24 hours a
day and can assist employees in making calls during and after
business hours.
Calls to the U.S. can be placed using AT&T, MCI, or Sprint phone
cards. Calls to the U.S. are currently about $5.00 for the first
minute and $1.59 every minute thereafter using AT&T, or about $1.70
a minute if placed directly through local PTT with no initial
connection charge. Callback services are also available. Figures
shown are based on weekday rates and, as in the U.S., weeknight and
weekend rates are considerably cheaper. Calls to other countries
besides the U.S. are cheaper using the local PTT rather than U.S.
companies.
Communications
Internet Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:55 AM
Internet Service Providers (ISP). Ankara has several very
reliable Internet Service Providers, which include Marketweb,
Superonline, ATTGlobal, and AOL as well as local and other
lesser-known ISPs.
Communications
Mail and Pouch Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:56 AM
International airmail letter service to and from the U.S. is
reliable; letters from Washington to Ankara (and vice versa) usually
take 7 to 12 days. Package deliveries via international mail are
less reliable. U.S. Government personnel are authorized to use the
APO for letter and parcel mail. Currently, an APO representative
arrives at the Embassy once a week for all outgoing mail requiring
special treatment such as being insured, registered, or certified.
These hours are also used for mailing packages since the Embassy
cannot provide this service. First-class mail to and from the U.S.
via APO generally takes 10 to 14 days.
Personnel assigned to Turkey will be using one of the following
addresses:
Ankara: APO Full Name American Embassy Ankara PSC 93 Box 5000 APO
AE 09823–5000
Local Address
Full Name Amerikan Büyükelçiligi Atatürk Bulvari, 110 06688
Kavaklidere Ankara, Türkiye
Istanbul:
APO Full Name American Consulate General Istanbul PSC 97 Box 0002
APO AE 09827–0002
Local Address Full Name Amerikan Konsoloslugu Istinye Mahallesi
Kaplicalar Mevkii No. 2 Istinye, Istanbul Türkiye TR-34460
Adana:
APO Full Name American Consulate Adana PSC 94 APO AE 09824
Local Address Full Name Amerikan Konsoloslugu Atatürk Bulvari ve
Vali Yolu Bossa Apartmani Adana, Türkiye
Izmir:
APO Full Name U.S. Consular Agency Izmir PSC 88 Box 5000 APO AE
09821
Local Address Full Name U.S. Consular Agent Schit Nevres Bulvari,
23/2 Alsancak, Izmir 35210 Turkiye
Communications
Radio and TV Last Updated: 10/1/2003 11:57 AM
Both privately owned and state-owned radio and television
stations broadcast in Turkey. Turkish Radio and Television (TRT,
state-owned) operates four radio and five television networks. Most
of the population, however, tunes into the half dozen most popular
privately owned television channels.
As of late 1995, there were reportedly 1,200 FM radio and about
200 TV stations operating in Turkey. Eight of the TV channels are
nationally televised networks. Cable television is also available
and broadcasts several foreign channels, including BBC; CNN
International; Eurosport; and German, Italian, and French stations.
Some private radio stations are owned by newspapers and some by
businessmen. These stations broadcast an assortment of formats, from
Turkish and Western pop to classical. VOA and BBC radio can be heard
in most of Turkey via short and medium wavebands. VOA Europe
programs are broadcast on an FM station in Istanbul 24 hours a day.
TV channels operate on the European standard of 625 lines. The
color system is PAL. Armed Forces Network television is available
for a fee in U.S. Government-owned housing but requires an American
television set. (A multi-system television can be programmed to
receive Turkish, cable, and AFN stations.) Twenty of the TV channels
are nationally televised. Cable TV operates in most major cities and
offers foreign channels. BBC radio airs twice daily by using private
TV station NTV radio frequency. National Geographic and Discovery
have also Turkish version as part of national broadcasting.
Communications
Newspapers, Magazines, and Technical Journals Last Updated:
10/1/2003 11:58 AM
Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir have many shops selling foreign news
publications, including the International Herald Tribune, Time, and
Newsweek. Several general interest U.S. magazines and many British,
French, German, and Italian publications are widely sold. The
Turkish Daily News, The Turkish News, weekly Probe, and weekly
Briefing are published in English and are available in major Turkish
cities. American magazines not sold in Turkey may be ordered through
your APO address.
Ankara has Turkish Government libraries and American, British,
French, German, and Italian Government cultural services that are
open to the public. PAS in Ankara has a library, as does PAS in
Istanbul. Istanbul also has several foreign cultural centers.
Health and Medicine
Medical Facilities Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:00 AM
The Embassy has a Health Unit staffed by a regional Foreign
Service health practitioner, three registered nurses, and a Turkish
MD. The Medical staff in Ankara works with the regional medical
officer in Jordan and the regional psychiatrist in Cairo, who visit
periodically. The Health Unit provides many primary care services,
including health promotion and management of acute and chronic
health problems. Health problems that are determined to be beyond
the expertise of the Health Unit staff (e.g., appendicitis, heart
attack, or fracture) will be referred to a local specialist.
The Health Unit is stocked with a variety, but limited supply of
prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, which are
dispensed for acute health problems. There is a charge for all
medications dispensed in the Health Unit except for immunizations,
fluoride supplements, anti-TB and anti-malarial medications. The
Health Unit can write prescriptions accepted in the U.S. for needed
medications that are not in stock. A 6-month supply of necessary
chronic medications (e.g., heart medications, birth control pills)
should be brought to post. Diagnostic testing is performed at a
local private laboratory or hospital. Not all diagnostic testing is
up to American standards and some must be done outside of Turkey,
including mammograms.
Turkish hospitals vary greatly. The new, private hospitals in
Ankara have the most modern facilities and equipment. Some American
women in the Embassy community have opted to have their babies
delivered in Turkish hospitals; however, the State Department
recommends women be medically evacuated to the U.S. for delivery.
The hospital at the Incirlik Air Base is also available for U.S.
Government personnel. Istanbul has a small Health Unit at the
Consulate General. Adana Consulate personnel use the facilities at
the nearby Incirlik Air Base. The APP in Izmir uses a local hospital
for health care. The Medevac point for Turkey is London.
Health and Medicine
Community Health Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:01 AM
The State Department encourages Americans posted to Turkey not to
drink the tap water. Bottled spring water is available in
restaurants and grocery stores. Tap water should be boiled for 3
minutes after filtering to remove particulate matter. Local wine,
bottled soda, fruit juice, and beer are considered safe to drink.
Most local dairy products, including milk, yogurt, and cheese, are
safe to consume; however, care must be taken when purchasing
perishable products from local shops, as many do not have adequate
refrigeration.
Locally produced beef, lamb, and poultry can be of good quality
but should be purchased from refrigerator-equipped, sanitary shops
and cooked thoroughly before eating. In smaller towns lamb may be
the only meat available. Fresh fish and seafood are available in
major cities in winter but difficult to find in summer months except
by the sea. Refrigerated transport of fish may be unreliable in the
summer. Fresh vegetables and fruits are excellent but should be
washed thoroughly and soaked in a mixture of water, soap and bleach
prior to being eaten raw. Raw salads in local restaurants should be
avoided.
Turkish cuisine is excellent and should be enjoyed during a tour
in Turkey. In the larger cities, restaurants offer both
international and local specialties. New arrivals often experience
mild stomach upsets before adjusting to local conditions. Even
old-timers have periodic stomach problems, especially during the
warmer months.
Health and Medicine
Preventive Measures Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:01 AM
Tuberculosis does pose a greater risk in Turkey than in the U.S.
and the countrywide incidence is increasing. Yearly tuberculosis
testing is recommended. Rabies is prevalent in Turkey, and people
are cautioned against handling stray animals. A pre-exposure rabies
series is available in the Medical Unit. If you are bitten,
post-exposure rabies vaccinations are given. Recommended
immunizations for adults and children include meningococcal,
typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B; it is
advised that children have all the recommended childhood
immunizations. Immunizations should be obtained prior to arrival at
post but may also be obtained in the Health Units at both the
Embassy and Consulate General. Newcomers are provided with a Medical
Information Handbook and orientation upon arrival at post.
Air pollution is a problem in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Adana.
Ankara's air problems have decreased significantly since the
introduction of natural gas; however, increased vehicular pollution
and the natural bowl configuration of the city still bring a large
number of poor air quality days.
Istanbul has a serious air pollution problem that is worst in
winter. The pollution can constitute a health hazard, especially to
children, smokers, and those with chronic respiratory disorders.
Sulfur dioxide levels often far exceed the healthy limits
established by the World Health Organization. Those with respiratory
problems should consult with the Medical Division prior to accepting
an assignment to Turkey.
Employment for Spouses and Dependents Last Updated: 10/1/2003
12:03 AM
Family member employment opportunities are very limited. The U.S.
and Turkey have signed a bilateral work agreement, so American
family members of both diplomatic-accredited staff and
administrative and technical-accredited staff may work in the fields
of education and academic research (or other job categories as may
be agreed on a case-by-case basis) for a period not exceeding 2
years with possible renewals. Foreign Ministry approval of all such
requests has been forthcoming since the signing of the bilateral
work agreement.
Employment opportunities outside of the U.S. Mission are reserved
almost exclusively for Turkish speakers. American firms in Turkey
employ a few U.S. nationals in management and scientific and
technical positions, but these firms prefer to hire directly from
the U.S. to avoid work permit problems. If a job on the local market
is found, it is usually for very low pay by American standards.
A few jobs exist in language teaching where a need for fluency in
English or other languages is necessary. The Turkish-American
Association (TAA) occasionally has an English teaching position
available. Persons with special technical or professional skills or
with exceptional language capabilities might find opportunities with
third country firms, diplomatic missions, or with the United Nations
Development Program offices in Ankara, but openings for in country
appointments are extremely rare.
Currently, at the U.S. Embassy there are 17 positions for
eligible family members. These positions include:
* Community Liaison Office (CLO) Coordinator (two part-time
positions) * Roving Secretaries (one full-time, one WAE position) *
Secretary in the RSO Office (one part time position) * Registered
Nurse in Health Unit (one full time, two part-time) * Courier Escort
Position in Information Management Office (one part time) *
Logistics Technician in Engineering Security Office (one full time)
* Consular Associate in the Consular Section (one full time) *
Office Management Assistant in DEA (one full time) * Newsletter
Editor (professional contract) * Administrative Assistant in DAO
(one full time) * Assistant to Theatre Special Representative (one
full time) * Employee Recreation Association (ERA) Manager
(association contract; one full time) * Employee Recreation
Association (ERA) Store Assistant (one part time).
The Embassy Recreation Association (ERA) currently employs one
eligible family member General Manager. At times the Consulates in
Istanbul and Adana may have similar job opportunities. Some
substitute teaching positions at the Department of Defense
Dependents School also exist. However, it is difficult to obtain a
full-time teaching contract through Department of Defense Dependents
Schools (DoDDS) when already at post. Family members interested in
positions with DoDDS should submit an application (SF-171) prior to
arrival in Turkey to DoDDS Recruitment Unit, Team E, 4040 North
Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203–1634. Applications are due to
DoDDS by January 15 of the preceding school year if you wish to be
considered for full-time employment.
Teaching, staff, and other part-time positions are sometimes also
available at the International Kindergarten and Preschool and the
British Embassy Study Group.
American Embassy - Ankara
Post City Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:07 AM
Turkey’s capital, Ankara, is located in the western portion of
the Anatolian Plateau at an altitude of 3,000 feet. It is situated
at the bottom and up the sides of a deep bowl formed by bare, low
mountains. The climate is pleasant; its rare extremes of hot and
cold are moderated by the year-round dryness of the air and, in
summer, by a mild breeze. Smog, though considerably improved in
recent years with increased use of natural gas rather than lignite
coal, gives the city a drab appearance for much of the winter.
Ankara was a provincial town when Ataturk established the capital
along with the new Republic there in 1923. The city is modern, with
wide boulevards intersecting at large circles often congested with
bustling traffic. The architecture of the many government office
buildings is generally a stark, concrete block style.
Pleasant, tree-shaded streets with attractive gardens are
disappearing rapidly as the city struggles to keep up with its
influx of population. Single-family homes are rare today, having
been replaced by a steadily increasing number of large apartment
buildings. Nevertheless, modern Ankara has some pleasant parks, many
with playground equipment for children (Sidewalks, where present,
are often uneven and discontinuous, making the use of strollers less
convenient than backpacks for carrying babies.) .
Compared with other cities in Turkey, Ankara is quite livable;
where it lacks charm, it gains convenience. Perhaps its most
redeeming features are the steep hills upon which Ankara is built,
providing for countless panoramic views all over the city.
Ulus, the old city built around the ancient Byzantine citadel
situated atop a steep hill, is dramatically different from the rest
of Ankara. Its steep, winding streets, mosques, and small houses
give it a quaintness and appeal that is lacking in the new parts of
the city. Here you may still come upon an Anatolian peasant woman
colorfully clad in traditional clothing, kneeling on the
cobblestones while she rhythmically beats freshly shorn wool with a
stick.
The smell of newly baked bread emanates from crooked, high
windows adorned with dangling red peppers. Shops’ wares — copper,
carpets, antiques, handmade baskets — even plastics and electrical
paraphernalia — overflow into the narrow streets, showing a
lackadaisical disregard for contrasts of old and new. Ulus will
remain the heart of Ankara, no matter how fashionable or modern
other areas of the city become.
Roughly 1,000 Americans live in Ankara, including military and
civilian employees of the U.S. Government, exchange students and
professors, business representatives, and their families. Except for
business representatives from Western Europe, the rest of the
foreign community is primarily diplomatic (composed of 113
diplomatic missions). American visitors to Ankara come more often on
business than as tourists.
The Post and Its Administration Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:08 AM
The U.S. has maintained formal relations with Turkey (and its
precursor, the Ottoman Empire) since 1830. The Embassy was moved
from Istanbul to Ankara in the 1920s after Ankara became the capital
of the new Republic of Turkey. The Embassy complex, located at the
corner of Ataturk Bulvari and Tandogan Caddesi on Ankara’s “Embassy
Row” near the center of the modern city, was constructed in 1953.
Embassy working hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Addresses and
telephone numbers are as follows:
U. S. Embassy Atatürk Bulvari, 110 06688 Kavaklidere Ankara,
Turkey Telephone: (90) (312) 455–5555 Fax: (90)(312) 467–0019
New personnel need to notify the Embassy in advance of their
arrival so that they can be met at the airport. Otherwise, new
arrivals should take a taxi to the Embassy and contact their
agencies on arrival. Taxi service is readily available at the
airport and costs about $35 to the Embassy.
The U.S. Mission in Ankara is composed of the Political,
Political/Military Affairs, Regional Affairs, Economic, Consular,
Public Affairs, and Management Sections and the Foreign Commercial
Service (FCS), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA), FBI (LEGAT), Defense Communications Support
Detachment, Defense Attaches Office, ODC, the Technical Liaison
Office (TLO), and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are
also in Ankara.
ODC (formerly JUSSMAT) is one of the oldest Military Assistance
Advisory Group (MAAG) missions currently in operation. ODC has
separate Army, Navy, and Air Force sections, as well as support
staff.
Senior members of the Embassy staff and representatives from
other elements of the Mission, attend weekly country team meetings,
chaired by the Ambassador or, in his absence, the DCM. The country
team coordinates the activities of all U.S. Government agencies in
Turkey.
Housing
Temporary Quarters Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:08 AM
The Embassy maintains a few fully furnished apartments for
temporary duty personnel. Personnel not housed in guest apartments
are accommodated in hotels. Hotel rates usually do not exceed the
temporary housing allowance. Several hotels in Ankara have
accommodations comparable to good hotels in Washington. The Hilton
and Sheraton Hotels are within walking distances of the Chancery.
Housing
Permanent Housing Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:11 AM
Government owned. The Ambassador’s residence is a large, modern
house located on 10 fenced acres, 5 minutes by car from the
Chancery. It has landscaped gardens, spacious lawns, and a panoramic
view of the city and hills beyond. Built in 1952, the residence is
fully furnished and equipped with six bedrooms (each with bath), a
family sitting room, and servants quarters on the second floor; a
large reception area, salon, library, sunroom, dining room capable
of seating 100 people, and kitchens on the ground floor; and a large
reception room, bar/lounge, 100-seat movie theater, laundry room,
and three-car garage. The house has ample storage space, a
greenhouse, a large parking area, a swimming pool with dressing
rooms, and two tennis courts, lighted for night play.
The DCM’s home is a U.S. Government owned property with a nice
garden area, approximately three blocks from the Embassy. The house
has a full basement (laundry area and storage). The first floor is
used for representational events. The home has a guest bedroom with
bath, a full bathroom for guests, a large dining area with
fireplace, a patio, and a full kitchen. The second floor is reserved
as the living area for the DCM and family; it has a full kitchen, a
living/dining area, an enclosed sunroom, a family room; a master
bedroom, and two additional bedrooms. The attic has two bedrooms, a
full bath, and a storage area. The home also has a garage.
Other U.S. Government owned residential units include the Marine
Security Guard residence, three staff apartment buildings, and one
small house.
Government leased. It is Embassy policy to provide U.S.
Government owned or leased, furnished quarters for all U.S.
Government employees. The only housing reserved for specific
positions are the quarters for the Ambassador, the DCM, and the
Marine Security Guards. Housing assignments for all other personnel
are made by the Interagency Housing Committee on the basis of family
composition, position, grade, and date of arrival at post in
accordance with State Department A-171 standards. When possible,
housing assignments are made approximately 60 days prior to an
employee’s arrival at post.
Most Embassy housing is in apartment buildings in which all
housing units are under its control. Such buildings offer advantages
in security and comfort: maintenance is simplified, heating is
completely controlled, and security devices are installed. In 2000,
the housing board voted to move to some dispersed housing (housing
on the economy). Since that time, the Embassy has closed several
substandard buildings and leased new units on the economy. These
units have proved to be of high quality and often cheaper than
apartments in the Embassy leased buildings. The Roving Patrol
provides security for these apartments.
Most apartments are quite comfortable. Floor plans may differ
from those of typical American apartments. Nearly every apartment
has one or more small balconies opening from living or dining areas
or bedrooms. Most apartments have combined living and dining rooms.
Some have fireplaces. Typically floors are marble or concrete
covered with linoleum, tile, or parquet flooring. The Embassy
provides employees with wall-to-wall carpeting for the bedrooms.
Since many apartments have small rooms and limited closet and
storage space, it is wise to leave in storage items you think you
will not need at post.
Few apartments have much outdoor open space for play. One housing
area (Oran Sitesi), located about 5 miles outside of Ankara’s hub,
has a fenced-in grassy area with some playground equipment and a
small covered pool. Some families, often those with one or two small
children, consider the outdoor space and cleaner air of Oran to be
worth the extra time spent commuting back and forth from town.
Most personnel live within a 5- to 15-minute drive from the
Embassy, depending on the time of day (i.e., on traffic).
Housing
Furnishings Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:13 AM
GSO makes an effort to see that government-owned or -leased
housing is furnished in a comfortable, tasteful manner. Furniture,
furnishings, and equipment issued to State Department personnel are
limited to basic sets and are described below; it is usually not
possible to supply extra items.
The Inter-Agency Housing Board has approved the following list of
household furnishings for all apartments:
Living room furniture:
3-cushion sofa Coffee table 2 end tables w/ 2 tabletop lamps 2
armchairs Larger quarters are provided with additional chairs, a
bookcase and a loveseat
Dining Room Furniture: Wooden table w/ seating for 6–12 depending
on size of apartment Hutch and china cabinet Server
Den Furniture – Large apartments only – Net over 1900 sq. ft.:
Sofa 2 tall bookcases Coffee Table Easy chair – possibly
reclining Easy chair w/ ottoman 2 end tables w/ 2 tabletop lamps
Desk and chair
Master Bedroom Furniture:
1 Queen bed Set 2 nightstands w/ 2 lamps 1 chest of drawers 1
dresser 1 easy chair 1 floor lamp
Additional bedroom: 1 twin bed set 1 short chest of drawers 1
student desk w/ bookshelf unit 1 nightstand w/ lamp Bookcases – max.
4 tall per apartment to be supplied by USG Drapes (unlined) and
sheers Wall-to-wall carpets in bedrooms and halls Three speed
ceiling fans in all occupied bedrooms and living rooms Adequate
lighting fixtures and lamps
Electric stove Refrigerator Freezer – as needed Washer Dryer
Transformers (max. 5 per household depending on family size) Fire
extinguisher 1 humidifier per occupied bedroom 3 air cleaners 1 air
conditioner per occupied bedroom
Housing
Utilities and Equipment Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:14 AM
The electrical power supplied in Ankara is 220v, 50 cycles.
Stateside electric clocks and motors (turntables, tape recorders,
etc.) will run approximately 16% slower than normal unless they are
adapted to 50 cycles.
Nearly all homes occupied by Americans are centrally heated by
hot water systems. The principal fuel used in government-leased
buildings is diesel oil.
Food Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:15 AM
For daily household needs, local markets offer a good selection
of food products and fresh produce. Neighborhood groceries (known as
“bakkals”) sell most staples and offer store-to-door delivery.
Availability of fresh produce varies seasonally. There are various
supermarkets and hypermarkets — the latter usually co-located in
large shopping malls with various department and specialty stores.
Generally, most needs can be met on the local market, but
imported goods are often expensive and shopping may take several
stops, since specialty items often are stocked inconsistently.
There is a small commissary operated through military channels
that carries American products. It is about the size of a small U.S.
grocery store and is located adjacent to the DoDD School at the
Ankara Support Facility (ASF) in Balgat.
Ankara has several restaurants that have become favorites in the
foreign community. They offer Turkish, Italian, Chinese, and other
international cuisine. Small kebab shops abound, and American type
fast food places are ubiquitous with McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza
Hut, Dominos, Subway, KFC and other well-known franchises in most
neighborhoods. Many of these offer home delivery.
Clothing Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:17 AM
Wardrobes can be supplemented easily by buying on the local
economy or ordering from catalogs. Clothing stores or tailor-made
items of good quality are readily available. Taste in clothing in
Turkish circles is similar to American taste, although Turkish women
often wear dressier and more formal clothes to many social affairs.
Employees and their spouses should bring clothing appropriate for
receptions, cocktail parties, dinner parties, and the occasional
formal ball. Male officers at the senior level need black tie
evening clothes. Men wear dark suits for presentation of credentials
and the Presidential Reception (October 29).
Plan family wardrobes for Ankara’s four-season climate. The
summer months bring hot days and cool evenings. Men generally wear
lightweight suits during the hot months. Shorts and sleeveless tops
are more and more frequently seen on the streets, but women may feel
less conspicuous in skirts and shirts with short sleeves. Swimming
is a popular pastime during the hot summer months.
Winter months can be cold and windy, requiring clothes similar to
those needed for Washington, D.C. winters. Good rain gear, winter
boots and gloves, and comfortable walking shoes are useful. It is a
Turkish custom to remove shoes upon entering the home; many
Americans adopt this practice, in which case slippers are needed to
wear indoors during cold months and to offer to guests who remove
their shoes when they visit.
Supplies and Services
Supplies Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:17 AM
There is a small U.S. Military Exchange on the ASF at Balgat (15
minutes drive from the most distant neighborhoods in which official
Americans are housed) This facility carries a basic range of
household supplies and products with a limited selection of basic
clothing and foodstuffs.
In general, toiletries, cosmetics, personal hygiene products,
tobacco items, fabrics, toys, small appliances, housekeeping
supplies, entertaining needs, greeting cards, household repair
items, gasoline coupons, and various other commonly used items, are
available at the Exchange. Similar items are generally available on
the local market. It is also possible to request special orders
through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES).
Supplies and Services
Basic Services Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:18 AM
Local tailors, dressmakers, hairstylists, shoemakers,
dry-cleaners, and other assorted service providers are available.
Quality of work may vary, but overall, results have been very
acceptable.
The Mission Employee Recreation Association (ERA) runs a
cafeteria in the Embassy and has a catering service for personal or
official entertainment purposes. It also maintains a Shoppette next
to the cafeteria with a video club, photograph developing service,
t-shirts and other logo gift items, snacks, and an assortment of
wines and liquors.
Supplies and Services
Domestic Help Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:18 AM
Most personnel employ at least one servant. Salaries for
domestics are reasonable (most recent surveys reveal salaries around
$25 per day) but will vary depending on required duties, experience,
and ability to speak English. Few domestics live in, and most wish
to be dismissed by 4 pm or 5 pm.
The Embassy Community Liaison Office (CLO) maintains a list and
letters of recommendation of domestics currently seeking employment.
Families with young children can find domestics who will look after
children (and baby sit evenings when needed) as well as houseclean,
but they should expect to pay on the high side. Employers are
advised to have domestics checked by the Embassy Security Office and
have medical screenings.
Religious Activities Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:19 AM
The Interdenominational Protestant Church and the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints hold worship services each Sunday at the
DoDDS School. Roman Catholic services are held at the French,
Italian, and Vatican Embassies. Anglican services are held at the
Church of St. Nicholas (part of the Worldwide Anglican Communion),
which is located on the British Embassy compound. The Ankara Baptist
Church holds services each Sunday. Most of these groups have active
auxiliary organizations. There is a synagogue in the old part of
Ankara; however, services are not held on a regular basis.
Education
Dependent Education
At Post Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:23 AM DoDDS operates a school
system for kindergarten (full day) through grade 12. The school is
at the Ankara Support Facility (ASF) in Balgat. Children of
employees of all U.S. Government agencies in Ankara are eligible to
enter the elementary and high schools. Other non-Turkish students
may be admitted on a space available, tuition-paying basis. The
school’s address is:
George C. Marshall School Unit 7010 APO AE 09822 Telephone: (90)
(312) 287–2532 Fax: (90) (312) 285-1791 Email: JOE_ROBINSON@eu.odedodea.edu
Website: www.ankara-ehs.k12.tr
The annual academic tuition rates are established by DoDDS in
Washington, D.C. The post educational allowance covers tuition,
which includes the cost of school bus transportation. Registration
for eligible children is ongoing throughout the summer. Children can
be registered when they arrive in Ankara.
The school curriculum is similar to that of public schools in the
U.S. In addition to the regular curriculum, courses sometimes can be
arranged to meet students’ special needs. To enter kindergarten a
child must be age 5 on or before October 31 of the year he or she
enrolls. To enter the first grade a child must be age 6 on or before
October 31 of the year he or she enrolls. Admission to the various
grades in the high school is contingent upon satisfactory completion
of the preceding grade or its equivalent.
The faculty is recruited in the U.S. under the Department of
Defense Educational System. At the present time, about 90% of the
faculty has master’s degrees; the remainder has bachelor’s degrees.
The teachers have had an average of 18 years of experience, and
about half of the school’ faculty has been in Turkey over 10 years.
In addition to the usual facilities, the school has a large
gymnasium and an outdoor track, soccer field, and playground and
well-equipped special-purpose rooms for art, music, general science,
biology, chemistry, physics, mechanical drawing, industrial arts,
and home economics.
There is a school lunch program for grades Kindergarten–6;
7th–12th graders have option of bringing their lunch or eating at
pizza restaurant located next to the school and BX (shoppette). The
high school has an active program of extracurricular activities,
including interscholastic sports, journalism, band (instruments
furnished), choral groups, and host nation activities.
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accredit
the high school. The school uses the A-B-C-D-F grading system. There
is a Parent Teacher Student Organization and School Advisory
Council.
The British, French, and German Embassies operate study groups
(schools) that enroll students of other nationalities. The British
and French Schools go through the equivalent of the primary grades
and have three terms per year. The German School extends through the
equivalent of grade 10.
Several American Embassy children attend the British Embassy
Study Group, which provides a British-style education based on the
Common Entrance Examination syllabi for entrance to private schools
in the U.K.
The Study Group’ present building, set on the grounds of the
British Embassy, was built in 1964. The premises contain classrooms,
a well-stocked library, a computer resource room, a hall/gymnasium,
and administration offices. There is an active Parent Teacher
Association. Entrance priority is given first to British students
and next to native English speakers.
The British Embassy Study Group Sehit Ersan Caddesi 46/A
Ankara Phone: 90–312–468–6563 Headmaster: David Draper
Bilkent University Prep School, also an option for U.S. Embassy
children, is a private Turkish school whose classes are taught in
English. The school has a pregrade 6 "prep" class through grade 12
and class size is limited to 20 students. The curriculum has a
structure similar to that of the English National Curriculum but
departs from it occasionally to suit the multicultural student body.
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education
curriculum is offered in grades 9 and 10 and the International
Baccalaureate curriculum in grades 11 and 12. Bilkent Prep's
facilities include a sports hall, a band room and a general music
room, two fully equipped science labs, audio/visual rooms, a
computer lab, ceramics and art rooms, and ample classrooms. Bilkent
also has a newly opened performing arts center with additional
practice rooms, dance class facilities and a performance stage. Hot
lunch is available in the cafeteria.
Bilkent University Preparatory School East Campus, Ankara
Website: www.bupsbis.bilkent.edu.tr Phone: 90-312-266-4961 Director:
James DiSebastian High School Principal: Roy Lewis
There are a few excellent preschools taught in English, including
the British Embassy Study Group, which accepts children during the
term in which they turn 3 years old, and the International
Preschool, the Ankara English Preschool as well as Yasemin Preschool
(Montessori style).
College degree programs, many of which are taught in English, are
available from Turkish universities. Part-time attendance is not
common in Turkey. Incirlik Air Base in Adana oversees University of
Maryland and City College of Chicago extension programs in Adana and
Ankara. The Education Office at the air base can arrange
correspondence and video courses.
Education
Dependent Education
Away From Post Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:23 AM Use of facilities
away from post is not generally necessary at the primary or
secondary level. No away from post education allowance is
authorized.
Education
Higher Education Opportunities Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:25 AM
College degree programs, many of which are taught in English, are
available from Turkish universities. Part-time attendance is not
common in Turkey. Incirlik Air Base in Adana oversees University of
Maryland and City College of Chicago extension programs in Adana and
Ankara. The Education Office at the air base can arrange
correspondence and video courses.
A limited language program is available at post, funds
permitting. Comprehensive Turkish language courses are offered
through the Tömer Language Institute. Conversational classes are
offered by the TAA. The TAA also has lectures throughout the year on
subjects of historical and cultural interest, as does the American
Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT). The cultural associations of
the French, German, and Italian Embassies offer instruction in those
languages at reasonable fees.
Recreation and Social Life
Sports Last Updated: 10/28/2003 9:29 AM
Sports in and around Ankara include tennis, softball, bowling,
flag football, basketball, jogging, hunting, handball, squash,
racquetball, weight lifting, aerobics, fishing, swimming,
ice-skating, and skiing. There is an active tennis club run by the
ERA that uses the courts at the Ambassador’s residence during the
summer. An annual fee is charged for maintenance and upkeep of the
courts. Official American Embassy personnel may use the swimming
pool at the Ambassador’s residence.
The DoDD School at the ASF in Balgat has a gym, weight room, and
racquetball court, which are available after school hours for use by
the American community. The Hash House Harriers have an active
contingent in Ankara. They gather each Wednesday evening and Sunday
afternoon to run somewhere in or around the city and occasionally
travel to other parts of the country for additional fun on the run.
The Hilton and Sheraton Hotels offer year-round swimming
pool/health club memberships. A few Embassy employees are members,
but most find the membership fee high. Sports International is a
sports and fitness club located near Bilkent University that has
attracted many members of the Embassy community.
The facility, built by a U.S. Turkish joint venture, is well
maintained and impressive. It has both indoor and outdoor pools,
numerous tennis courts, fitness equipment, a gymnasium and separate
aerobics room, nutrition and fitness counseling, social areas, a
restaurant and a cafe, saunas, solariums, a steam-room, and a large
child care/play area.
Membership fees are high, although membership in a comparable
fitness club in Washington, D.C. no doubt would be more expensive.
There are other small fitness clubs located throughout the city
offering workout equipment and aerobics classes.
Fairly good skiing is available in areas not too far from Ankara.
The slope closest to the city is Elmadag, which offers a small T-bar
lift, a nice lodge and restaurant, and a small hill for sledding.
Kartalkaya, near Bolu, about 3½ hours north of Ankara, offers
several beginners and intermediate runs and has two large hotels.
Uludag, near Bursa, is a popular, more upscale skiing spot with
many good hotels and lifts. More adventurous skiing is available at
Mt. Erciyes near Kayseri and near Erzurum in eastern Turkey.
Ice-skating and ice hockey are available at a large, modern, indoor
ice skating rink in Ankara.
There are good freshwater fishing spots within 3 to 5 hours’
drive from Ankara. The rivers and streams of eastern Turkey,
although difficult to reach, provide excellent trout fishing. Other
freshwater fish such as giant catfish, carp, pike, and bass can be
found in various parts of Turkey. At this time a fishing license is
not required; however, there are specific fishing seasons. A hunting
license is required for all game.
Duck, geese, partridge, wild boar, wolf, and numerous smaller
games exist in many areas. Turkey also has its own species of quail
and wild turkey. Often local forestry stations impose a substantial
additional fee for hunting in their jurisdictions.
Sports equipment such as tennis rackets and balls, softball gear,
wet suits, and snorkels are expensive and difficult to get in
Turkey. The Government of Turkey permits limited importation of
shotguns and rifles (see Firearms and Ammunition).
Recreation and Social Life
Touring and Outdoor Activities Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:33 AM
There are fine beaches on the Sea of Marmara, near Istanbul,
along the Aegean coast north and south of Izmir, along the
Mediterranean coast, and at resort areas on the Black Sea. Many
Embassy families find it most enjoyable to travel out of Ankara in
the early spring or the late fall, since resort areas are crowded
with tourists during the summer months.
More and more areas of Turkey are being set aside for camping.
Many national parks and forestry camps have been developed in the
past few years near popular beach resorts and tourist sites. Most
campsites are well suited for tents. Many Americans bring camping
equipment with them and find camping an enjoyable way to vacation in
Turkey.
Ankara has a few small neighborhood parks, some with simple
playground equipment. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to walk on
the grass, and the children’'s equipment is often broken and located
on cement or hard packed dirt. Since there is virtually no shade in
the parks, the hot summer sun often prohibits playing on the metal
equipment, and in winter the parks are muddy.
Luna Park, in the center of the city, contains restaurants and
promenades, a boating lake, a children’s playground, and a permanent
midway with rides and attractions reminiscent of a country fair.
Altin Park, on the north end of town, sports a “hands-on” museum as
well as walking paths.
Eymir Lake, affiliated with Middle East Technical University,
offers a pleasant place to walk and picnic and limited boating
facilities. The current fee is about $40 per year for a family
permit to the lake. Gölbasi Lake is just outside of Ankara and
accessible for walks and rowboat rental without a permit.
The old part of town, Ulus, has several ancient monuments that
reveal the remarkable contrast of old and new in Ankara. The
Byzantine citadel perches atop one of the two hills on which Ulus
was built. Although the outer citadel walls have been destroyed or
have fallen in ruins, the inner fortress still stands. The Roman
baths date from the third century AD. Little remains of them, but
the baths still retain much of the essence of the original
structure.
Julian’s Column near Ulus Square dates from the fourth century.
It is believed that Emperor Julian the Apostate came to Ankara and
the monument was erected to commemorate his visit. The Temple of
Augustus was built in the late first century BC. About 500 years
later, it was made into a Christian church, and then in the 15th
century, one of its walls was used as a support for the roof of the
Haci Bayram Mosque. The walls of this marble temple are still
standing and bear the famous inscription in both Greek and Latin,
“The Achievements of the Deified Augustus” a political autobiography
of the Emperor.
Within the walls of the citadel is the Alaeddin Mosque, built in
1178 and renovated several times during the Ottoman Empire.
Inscriptions on its finely carved walnut pulpit remaining from its
origins indicate the Seljuk Turks built it. Another Seljuk mosque,
the Aslanhane Cami, or Lion House Mosque, built in 1289, still has
its original structure and is noteworthy for its period wood and
tile work.
Ankara houses two of the country’s finest museums: the
Ethnographic Museum, which contains an extensive collection of old
Turkish costumes, calligraphy, wood carvings, copper, brass,
ceramics, and pottery, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations,
which has the world’s foremost collection of Hittite artifacts. The
Anatolian Civilizations museum is housed in a 15th-century
“kervansaray” adjacent to the citadel.
Konya, ancient Iconium, is a 4-hour drive from Ankara. It was the
capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum and contains many monuments
dating from that period. Here also are the tombs and the chapter
house of the Turkish Islamic mystic, Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi,
founder of the 13th-century order of dervishes widely known for
their ethereal dancing. Every December many travel to Konya to see
the festival of the Whirling Dervishes held in commemoration of its
founder’s death.
Kayseri is also a 4-hour drive from Ankara. Situated at the foot
of Mt. Erciyes, it is rich in Seljuk architecture and decorative
arts, most of which lie within its well-preserved medieval fortress.
Near Kayseri is the area known as Cappadocia, with a surreal
landscape from the erosion of its soft layer of tufa stone. The
countryside is a mass of stone waves that rise into pinnacles known
as “peri bacalari,” or “fairy chimneys.” Early Christians carved
these cones into homes, monasteries, and churches, some still
magnificently ornate with frescoes. The nearby underground cities of
Derinkuyu and Kaymakli are just two of numerous troglodyte habitats
in the area. These subterranean cities are fantastic to see, with
their extensive ventilation shafts, round millstone like doors, and
rooms that extend as deep as 10 stories; it is believed that they
were inhabited as early as pre-Christian times and up until 1839,
when locals sought refuge from the besieging Egyptian army.
Amasya, on the banks of the Yesil Irmak (Green River), is about 5
hours northeast of Ankara. The city is dominated by a massive cliff,
with the tombs of Pontic kings carved into its face, and ruins of
the ancient fortress built when the kingdom was founded. Throughout
the town are well-preserved examples of Seljuk and Ottoman
architecture.
The Black Sea town of Amasra is about 4 hours by car from Ankara.
Safranbolu, en route to Amasra, is known for its fine examples of
Ottoman architecture, many of which recently have been renovated.
Black Sea towns offer simple hotels and camping areas near pleasant,
quiet beaches. Bolu, on the way to Istanbul, is about a 3-hour drive
northwest of Ankara. Nearby is Lake Abant, where you may fish, boat,
or swim. A hotel overlooking the lake provides good accommodations.
Istanbul is now 5 or so hours drive from Ankara, depending on how
fast your car will go or how fast you will let it go. The new super
toll highway linking the two cities is complete, except for the
tunnel through the mountain at Bolu. Once the tunnel is complete,
the drive will be quick and painless, given decent weather. As it
is, the area around Bolu can be congested and dangerous with trucks
and foolhardy drivers daring blindly to pass them. Some still prefer
to fly to Istanbul, get a sleeper car on the overnight train, or
travel by intercity buses especially the smoke free, double decker
buses with dining and toilet facilities.
Recreation and Social Life
Entertainment Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:34 AM
The Turkish State Opera and the Turkish State Conservatory are
located in Ankara. The Presidential Symphony Orchestra offers two
performances a week during its regular season. Several theaters
present decent plays in Turkish. Occasionally touring foreign
companies visit. The Embassy Cultural Affairs office and the
cultural departments of other embassies, especially the French and
the British, sponsor musical and theatrical performances. Tickets
for all of these are very modestly priced. The TAA sponsors
concerts, lectures, movies, and art exhibitions.
In addition to Turkish films, local movie theaters present
American and European movies with Turkish subtitles. The Embassy’s
ERA has a small video club with current movies, mostly VHS. The
Exchange also has some videos to rent. All Embassy housing is
equipped with satellite dishes to receive AFN (Armed Forces Network)
TV transmissions on American format televisions. For a moderate fee,
cable TV that includes several European channels and CNN
International can be hooked up. (For more details on television in
Turkey, see Telecommunications.)
Recreation and Social Life
Social Activities
Among Americans Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:35 AM There are
numerous opportunities for activities within the American community
in Ankara. Activities for children and teenagers generally revolve
around the DoDD School. Active Boy and Girl Scout programs and youth
sports programs involve many children and adult volunteers to run
them.
The Ankara Women’s Club provides monthly social and cultural
programs for its members. The Ankara Professional Women’s Network
was founded as a forum for women who work or would like to work in
Turkey holds periodic lectures and seminars. It aims to create a
network of support readily accessible to foreign women who wish to
work in Ankara. Turkey has a bi-lateral work agreement signed in
1998. Ongoing efforts to improve this agreement are of great
interest.
The Embassy’s Community Center, based in a small apartment in one
of the Embassy leased buildings, is run on a member volunteer basis
and offers mother toddler, bridge players’, and cooking groups and
other events members organize. The Community Center is open to the
greater American community and to others on an associate member,
space available basis.
The ERA hosts block parties, happy hours, and seasonal events
such as the winter Holiday Bazaar and a Fourth of July party, and
the annual Yard Sale in conjunction with the CLO. The greater
American community and other guests are invited to these events.
Friends of ARIT was formed in 1983 by Americans in the Ankara
community interested in the art, history, and archaeology of Turkey
to help promote the work of the Ankara Branch of ARIT. Friends of
ARIT, frequently sponsors lectures given by visiting or local
scholars, informative tours around Turkey’s archaeological sites,
and benefit dinners. The ARIT library has a specialized collection
of books and periodicals on archaeology in Turkey.
Recreation and Social Life
Social Activities
International Contacts Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:36 AM Many of
the organizations mentioned above also offer opportunities for
meeting Turks and other foreign nationals. There are several avenues
for contributing to and volunteering for charitable organizations,
including the Turkish American Women’s Cultural and Charitable
Society, an active volunteer group with an international membership.
The Çocuk Sevenler Dernegi’ (Child Lovers’ Society) gives
volunteer help to orphans in the Ankara area and also has an
international membership. The need for volunteer work is great,
newcomers are always welcome, and any contribution is appreciated.
The TAA cosponsors an annual ARIT lecture series on archaeology. It
also organizes guided tours for its members to areas of
archaeological and scenic interest.
Official Functions
Nature of Functions Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:45 AM
The Chief of Mission and officers entertain and are entertained
by officials of the Turkish Government; leading members of the
political, professional, military, and business communities; and
officers of other diplomatic missions. Cocktail parties, buffet
dinners, and other forms of entertainment in the home are popular.
There are frequent receptions for other diplomatic missions and the
host government, but semiofficial functions are more numerous and
embrace a broader contingent of people.
Official Functions
Standards of Social Conduct Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:46 AM
Staff members participate in local functions. Business cards are
a necessity. English Turkish business cards can be printed locally,
as can special occasion invitations. The Chief of Mission is
expected to make calls on government ministers and prominent local
citizens.
Special Information Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:26 AM
Post Orientation Program
Orientation of newcomers begins before arrival at post. The
Ambassador sends a welcoming cable, Human Resources sends a cable of
information, including a housing survey. The CLO sends Comprehensive
information packet. The CLO can be reached by e-mail at: cloankara@state.gov
and welcomes inquiries.
New arrivals are assigned a sponsor who helps with the welcoming
process. After arrival, Administrative Section personnel, including
the regional security officer, community liaison officer, and nurse
practitioner, provide special briefings. A formal Mission
Orientation is offered periodically for newly arrived personnel and
their families.
Consulate General - Istanbul
Post City Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:49 AM
The mention of Istanbul evokes romantic images of the imperial
sultans, janissaries, and harems of the Ottoman Empire; of Byron and
Keats, who immortalized through verse the glories of Byzantium; of
the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, and the Orient Express.
Istanbul has never been a monochromatic Turkish city but rather a
cosmopolitan blend of nationalities. In 1906, only 44% of its
870,000 residents were Turkish or Arab Muslims. In the period from
1839–80, large numbers of European workers and tradesmen settled in
Pera on the European side of the Bosphorus, north of the Golden
Horn, where they built hotels, houses, and palaces and demanded a
higher standard of city services. The remainders were a pastiche of
Greeks, Armenians, Jews, and foreigners from all over Europe.
Old Stamboul, south of the Golden Horn and heavily Muslim,
languished and suffered from the terrible destruction of the city’s
frequent fires. The European residents of Pera brought in urban
planners from Germany and Italy who replaced traditional wooden
structures with buildings made of stone. This created a European
oasis in Istanbul, a distinction from the rest of the city that
remains today.
Many middle- and -upper class members of contemporary Istanbul
society are pro-Western and consider themselves European. The city
is a unique synthesis of East and West upon the exotic echoes of
ancient Byzantium and old Constantinople. Simultaneously, it is a
bustling, modern, industrial city of 12–14 million people, making it
Europe’s largest city. There is no end to the fascination of
Istanbul. Those fortunate enough to be assigned to a tour of duty
here should find it an enriching experience.
Istanbul is the site of an U.S. Consulate General. Its consular
district includes all of Thrace (European Turkey), the land on both
sides of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits, the provinces
bordering the Marmara Sea, an area extending south into western
Anatolia (Asiatic Turkey) and to the north of Istanbul, and the
southern shore of the Black Sea.
The Post and Its Administration Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:50 AM
The Consulate General is located on a compound at Istinye
Mahallesi, Kaplicalar Mevkii No. 2, in the northern Istinye section
of Istanbul on the European side of the Bosphorus. The Consulate
General telephone number is [90](212) 335–9000, and the APO address
is:
PSC 97, Box 0002 APO AE 09827–0002
The Consulate General moved to this new compound in summer 2003.
Working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
(30-minute lunch). State Department employees share the compound
with FCS, DEA, FAS, and the Defense Communication Support Detachment
(DCSD). The information contained in this report is generally
applicable to all agencies.
The Consulate General has an active sponsor program to welcome
newcomers. Once arrival plans are settled, new arrivals need to
provide the Consulate General with advance notice of their arrival
(airline, flight number, date, time) so that Consulate General staff
can meet and assist with customs clearance.
The new Consulate General building houses the consul general’s
office, Political and Economic Sections, Regional Affairs Offices,
Security Offices, Management Officer, the Health Unit, Consular
Section, General Services, Public Affairs, Human Resources, GSO
maintenance and transportation offices and a cafeteria as well as
the agencies named above.
The Marine Security Guards’ BEQ is also located on the compound.
The Consulate General’s Management Section supports the programs and
personnel of all U.S. Government agencies assigned to Istanbul.
Housing
Temporary Quarters Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:51 AM
The Consulate General makes every effort to move incoming
employees directly into permanent quarters upon arrival. However, in
case permanent quarters are not available, State Department
employees will reside in transient quarters until permanent quarters
are ready. Other agencies may use transient quarters or one of the
many large, modern, first-class hotels, such as the Hilton,
Intercontinental, Conrad, Hyatt, or long-term apartment-hotels.
Housing
Permanent Housing Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:53 AM
All government housing in Istanbul is furnished and located 1–15
miles from the Consulate General. Commuting time to and from work
can take from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on Istanbul’s
perpetual and chaotic traffic. All apartments are on the European
side of Istanbul.
All U.S. government employees in Istanbul live in apartments,
except the consul general. An interagency housing board assigns
housing on the basis of employee rank, family size, and apartment
availability. All apartments have a combination living room/dining
room, kitchen, main bedroom with bathroom, and at least one
additional bedroom and bathroom. Apartments are generally modest in
size, and bedrooms in particular are small. Not all bedrooms have
closets.
Not many apartment buildings have air-conditioning, and Istanbul
summer temperatures average in the 80’s. Post policy provides one
air-conditioning unit in each occupied bedroom. Storage space is
limited, and there is little commercial storage space available;
newcomers should ship only essential items to post.
The home of the consul general, first occupied in 1988, is
located north of the first Bosphorus Bridge in the suburb of
Arnavutköy. Its lofty location offers a sweeping view of the
Bosphorus and the Asian shore. A large entrance hall opens onto a
ground floor living room with fireplace, an informal dining room, a
formal dining room, and a kitchen with pantry.
A lower floor has maid’s quarters, guest bathrooms, and a small
lounge decorated in Ottoman style. On the second floor are the main
bedroom suite and two additional bedrooms with full baths, an
adjoining study, and a family room. Two guest bedrooms with baths
are located on the third floor.
Large outdoor terraces and balconies are perfect for warm-weather
entertaining, but narrow roads and limited parking make large crowds
unmanageable. The residence is completely furnished; it was
refurbished in 2002. The electrical current is 220 volt/50 cycles,
and the house has central heating.
Housing
Furnishings Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:52 AM
All post personnel live in government-furnished quarters and are
provided with a range, a refrigerator/freezer, clothes washer/dryer,
draperies, and light fixtures. Some apartments come equipped with
built-in microwave ovens and/or dishwashers. Furnishings include
living room, dining room, bedroom sets (queen- and twin-size beds),
bookcases, lamps, and rugs. Most employees augment these furnishings
with locally available items, such as Turkish carpets.
Housing
Utilities and Equipment Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:54 AM
Istanbul’s water is chlorinated and supposedly potable, but most
Consulate employees and Turks drink bottled or filtered water. GSO
arranges monthly bottled water deliveries when employees submit
requests and payment in advance.
Central heating in apartment buildings is generally turned on
around October 15. In many buildings, the heat is turned on early in
the morning and turned off before midnight. Electric current in
Istanbul is 220 volt/50 cycles. The Consulate General provides
transformers for government-furnished appliances plus up to three
additional transformers for employees’ use.
Employees are provided with cellular telephones.
Food Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:55 AM
Istanbul markets offer a wide selection of excellent seasonal
fresh fruits and vegetables. Each neighborhood has its own markets.
Beef, lamb, mutton, and chicken are available from local butchers,
and fresh fish is available in season. There are a growing number of
large supermarkets that carry a wide range of local and imported
foodstuffs.
Turkish bread, baked throughout the day, is excellent. The city
is full of bakeries, restaurants, specialty stores, fresh
fruit/vegetable sellers, cafes, fast-food chains (McDonald’s, Burger
King, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Schlotsky’s), and grocery stores.
Consulate General members can supplement locally available items
with occasional trips to the commissary in Ankara, and the employee
association also organizes orders from the Ankara commissary. The
overall quality of food in Istanbul is excellent. The Consulate
General maintains a small snack bar, offering breakfast, a daily
lunch special, sandwiches, drinks, and snacks.
Clothing Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:56 AM
Turks’ taste in clothing is similar to that of Americans, but
Turks generally wear dressier, more formal clothes to social
affairs. Clothing stores feature current women’s fashions in every
price range, although at prices above those for comparable clothing
in the U.S. and with a limited range of sizes.
There is an excellent selection of local fabrics for those who
sew or wish to hire a tailor. Many items can be made locally at
reasonable prices. Locally made leatherwear is a particularly good
buy.
Since the temperatures in Istanbul resemble those of Washington,
DC, clothing for all seasons is needed. Homes are generally
maintained at cooler temperatures in Istanbul than in the U.S.
Raincoats and boots are necessary because of winter rain and mud.
Clothing
Men Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:56 AM
Men should bring most of the clothing they expect to need with
them. Sportswear, shirts, sweaters, and other items may be purchased
locally. The quality of these items ranges from acceptable to
excellent; prices are higher than in the U.S. for comparable quality
goods. Some have found local tailors satisfactory for suits and
jackets. Male officers may want to bring a tuxedo. They are
available for rent or sale in Istanbul, but rentals are expensive.
Clothing
Women Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:57 AM
Women should bring at least a couple of dresses or suits
appropriate for receptions or dinners. Turkish women often wear
black; a dark dress or suit would be useful. Long evening dresses
are worn infrequently, but one or two suitable for the occasional
black tie dinner or Marine Corps Ball will be needed.
Clothing
Children Last Updated: 10/1/2003 12:59 AM
Many families order children’s clothing from U.S. mail order
catalogues. Some children’s clothing and shoes are available locally
but prices are high.
Supplies and Services
Supplies Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:00 PM
Foreign and local toiletries and cosmetics are available on the
local market but at higher prices than in the U.S. Newcomers should,
therefore, bring a supply of specially required items to Istanbul.
Pharmaceuticals are often in short supply on the local market. The
Consulate General’s nurse has a supply of basic drugs, which are
dispensed only upon the advice of the post medical advisers or other
physicians.
Miscellaneous household supplies and gadgets are widely
available. A few bookstores sell English-language newspapers,
magazines, and books but at substantially higher prices.
Supplies and Services
Basic Services Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:01 PM
Shoe, watch, radio, stereo, and automobile repair facilities are
available. The quality of work varies. Auto repairs can be difficult
and time consuming because of the lack of spare parts for U.S. and
foreign cars and or because mechanics lack experience in maintaining
American and some European model cars. There are good dry-cleaning
shops available.
Supplies and Services
Domestic Help Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:01 PM
Few persons employ a full-time housekeeper but most do employ a
maid for 1 or 2 days a week. A maid earns approximately $20–$25 a
day.
Religious Activities Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:04 PM
The majority of Turkey’s citizens are Muslim, but the government
retains a strict regime of secularism. Other religious groups
represented in Istanbul include Anglican, Protestant, Roman
Catholic, Armenian, Greek Orthodox, Latter-day Saints, and Jewish.
Most have charitable organizations and societies and some offer
services in English. The Jewish community is mostly Sephardic;
synagogues are Orthodox.
Education
Dependent Education
At Post Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:14 PM The Istanbul
International Community School (IICS) is the only accredited school
in Istanbul with an American-style education, offering classes from
K through 12. IICS has an American headmaster, a secondary
principal, and offers the International Baccalaureate (IB), middle
years (grades 9–10), and diploma (grades 11–12) programs.
IICS is a non-profit, private establishment, which has been
serving the foreign community since 1911. A school board
representing parents is responsible for educational, financial, and
personnel policies. Students who do not desire to enter the IB
program can opt for a less stringent program that awards an U.S.
accredited high school diploma.
IICS is accredited by the European Council of International
School, and schools in the U.S. and Europe have readily accepted its
students. The school year is September–June. The calendar is similar
to that of American schools, with a 2-week vacation at Christmas and
in the spring, along with the traditional Muslim holidays.
IICS makes every effort to accommodate students from the
Consulate General community, but it would be wise to notify the
school of intended enrollments as early as possible. The IICS
Website is www.iics.k12.tr for more information. The school is in a
new, modern facility on a large campus located 1 hour from most
Consulate General housing.
The British International School (BIS) offers classes from
pre-kindergarten through 13 (equivalent to American grade 12). There
are two campuses: the first is primary only (K–6) and is located
centrally; the other has both primary and secondary and is located
just a few miles from the Black Sea coast, about a 30-minute ride
from most Consulate housing.
The BIS is a private, non-sectarian, co-educational school
providing British-style education for a multinational student
community. A school board representing parents is responsible for
educational, financial, and personnel policies.
The school offers a program using an adapted British National
Curriculum leading to IGCSE and IB programs but has not yet been
accredited. The school term runs from early September through early
June, with 3 weeks vacation at Christmas.
The MEF International School, located in Ortaköy closer to most
Consulate General housing, has small classes with a personalized
approach, a highly qualified international teaching staff, and
extensive facilities to aid in the development of the whole child.
MEF uses an outcome-based kindergarten through grade 8 curriculum
that has been adapted from a variety of international sources and
reflects a global outlook.
There are French, German, and Japanese schools available for
students who have already been enrolled in such educational
programs.
Pre-school on the local economy is very expensive. Half-day
sessions, Monday–Friday, start at approximately $5,500 per year.
Transportation costs an additional $100 per month. The U.S.
Government does not pay for pre-kindergarten schooling.
Education
Higher Education Opportunities Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:15 PM
The Consulate General has a limited language program to give
newly assigned personnel a basic command of Turkish, to assist
officers in reaching job-level Turkish language proficiency, and to
help officers in language-designated positions to maintain their
fluency. Spouses can attend classes on a space-available basis.
A basic knowledge of Turkish is extremely important in getting
settled, shopping, and exploring Istanbul and Turkey. Despite its
close proximity to Europe, very little English is spoken in Istanbul
outside of the tourist areas.
Recreation and Social Life
Sports Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:17 PM
Istanbul offers limited sports facilities and activities. The
ENKA Sports Club in Istinye, near the Consulate General office
building, has a full range of sports facilities, including tennis,
swimming, and racquetball. The Consulate has negotiated a favorable
membership fee for employees.
Several local hotels have tennis courts, pools, and/or gym
facilities with memberships available for non-guests averaging
between $1,000–$1,500 per year. There are a few sports centers
offering weight training and aerobic exercises, and some Consulate
General apartments are located in large apartment compounds that
have sports facilities.
Istanbul’s location straddling the Bosphorus provides some
boating opportunities. There are several yacht clubs in the area,
whose privileges include lessons and boat rentals. Sailing and
boating on the Bosphorus can be dangerous because of unpredictable
winds and very strong currents, so it is not recommended for
novices. Locally produced boats and small motor craft, although
expensive, may be purchased or rented.
There is a small horseback-riding academy in Istanbul, offering
lessons in riding and jumping for all ages at reasonable rates, but
instruction is in Turkish and students must provide their own safety
helmets.
Uludag (near Bursa, 3 hours from Istanbul) and Kartalkaya (near
Bolu) offer good accommodations for snow skiing. Modern ski tows are
in operation, and ski equipment may be rented inexpensively.
Cross-country skiing trails are limited.
Istanbul has two country clubs that have made their facilities
available to Consulate General employees on a fee basis. Both clubs
have 18-hole golf courses, swimming, tennis, and other recreational
and sport facilities; they are located approximately 90 minutes from
Istanbul.
The Marine House hosts regular parties. There is a fledgling
diplomatic group meeting approximately once a month. The British
Consulate includes Americans in occasional festivities, and there
are a couple of bowling alleys, where Consulate General teams have
organized tournaments. A small ice-skating rink and video game
arcades are located in the Galleria shopping mall near the airport,
and there are other video game arcades available in the city.
Some people jog along the Bosphorus, but exhaust fumes, crowds,
and traffic take some of the pleasure out of the experience. There
are fitness trails and jogging paths in the Belgrade Forest, a park
built around Istanbul’s reservoir north of the city, as well as
excellent picnic facilities and a botanical garden.
Soccer is a national mania; tickets to major games are scarce but
are readily available for other games. Turkey’s national team plays
a confederation of middle European teams at home and abroad.
Istanbul has a few affordable children’s sports facilities as
well as a few playgrounds and parks in or near the city. Boy Scouts
and Brownies are very popular. Troops are organized through IICS, as
are other children’s activities.
Recreation and Social Life
Touring and Outdoor Activities Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:18 PM
It is impossible to exaggerate the magnificence of the museums
and variety of collections in Istanbul. Topkapi and Dolmabahçe
Palaces and the Ayasofya and Sultan Ahmet Mosque are but a few of
the famous, grand monuments and treasures Istanbul has to offer.
The Kariye Museum has some of the finest examples of Byzantine
mosaics and frescoes in the world. The Archeological Museum has an
extensive collection, and the Museum of Ancient Oriental Art houses
rare artifacts from Babylonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, and Hittite
civilizations. Strolling through various quarters of the city or
shopping at the incomparable Covered Bazaar are popular weekend
pastimes.
The Turkish-American University Association, the American
Research Institute of Turkey (ARIT) and local travel agencies
provide excellent full service sightseeing tours. Many groups
sponsor lectures, films, and cultural events, along with annual
fund-raising activities.
Ferries cross the Bosphorus and the Marmara on regular runs, and
boats can be chartered. Touring outside Istanbul and around Turkey
reveals abundant historical and scenic sites. Many employees posted
to Istanbul enjoy a “blue cruise” along the Aegean and Mediterranean
coasts. The CLO periodically organizes trips around Turkey over
weekends.
Ample opportunities exist for outdoor activities. A series of
automobile camping sites has been established along well-traveled
routes. The planning and implementation of hiking expeditions
require individual initiative, as few organized groups or facilities
exist. Many families take short trips to destinations ranging from
the Black Sea coast to the ski slopes of Uludag.
Many hotels are reasonably clean and uncrowded, making Istanbul a
good location from which to plan weekend getaways. There are
historical sites of great interest in every direction, and many are
within a few hours’ drive or less from the city. Travel
possibilities are practically endless.
Recreation and Social Life
Entertainment Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:19 PM
The Atatürk Cultural Center in downtown Istanbul is the center of
the city’s cultural life. The Center’s cultural season runs from
October to early June and includes opera, ballet, and other
productions. Plays are performed at several theaters throughout the
city.
The Istanbul Orchestra has an annual concert program. The annual
Istanbul Festival of Culture and The Arts takes place in June/July
and is the highlight of the musical entertainment year. This
international festival includes participants from many countries
that have diplomatic representation in Turkey. Exciting music,
dance, and theater events permeate the city and are reasonably
priced.
Most of Istanbul’s many cinemas show current foreign films in
original languages with Turkish subtitles. Each spring the city
hosts the Istanbul International Film Festival, which brings some of
the best new foreign films to local screens.
Istanbul has many excellent restaurants, ranging from kebab shops
to moderate fish restaurants to very expensive European restaurants.
Turkish cooking is varied, colorful, and delicious. Istanbul also
has an abundance of nightclubs, bars, cafes, casinos, tea gardens,
Internet cafes, fast-food restaurants, exhibitions, art galleries,
shopping malls, department stores, and Bosphorus cruises.
Despite Istanbul’s cosmopolitan air, employees are advised to
bring plenty of home entertainment because increasingly congested
traffic makes it difficult and time consuming to get out and do
things, especially during messy winter days. Games, puzzles,
hobbies, books, music, and a multi-system television capable of
receiving NTSC and PAL help pass the time. There are PAL video and
DVD rental shops, and the Consulate General receives a few current,
circulating videos each week through the military.
Local programs on television are offered in Turkish, but a
variety of cable television packages are available for subscription
that offer a wide selection of English television, including CNN,
BBC, Eurosports, National Geographic, MTV, etc.
Recreation and Social Life
Social Activities
Among Americans Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:20 PM Most Americans in
Istanbul are members of the U.S. Government civilian, business, or
institutional communities. The third group includes teachers and
others, many of whom have had broad experiences in Turkey. Both the
American Women of Istanbul, the International Women’s Club, and the
American Research Institute in Turkey sponsor cultural, social, and
charitable events throughout the year. Children’s social contacts
are largely organized through IICS and Consulate General-sponsored
events.
Recreation and Social Life
Social Activities
International Contacts Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:21 PM
Organizations such as the Turkish-American University Association,
the Propeller Club, and the Rotary Club provide excellent
opportunities to meet Turks. Tours organized by local agencies also
offer these opportunities. The non-Turkish speaker may find himself
somewhat limited in his contacts.
Istanbul has a large consular corps and foreign business
community. The Propeller Club is a good introduction to foreign and
Turkish business representatives. The International Women’s Club of
Istanbul holds monthly meetings and sponsors a variety of
activities.
The American Girls Dershane (originally a YMCA project), the
Vehbi Koç Vakfi American Hospital, and other charities afford an
opportunity to assist local groups and to meet members of the
Turkish and international communities.
Official Functions
Nature of Functions Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:23 PM
Except for the consul general and section chiefs, staff members
have few representational responsibilities. The Consul General’s
official relations are primarily with the governor, the mayor, the
foreign consular corps, and the private sector.
Most other representational activities are with prominent
business representatives, bankers, and other professionals. The
social life can be quite active. Section chiefs generally make
official calls on their consular counterparts; their contacts are of
the same genre as those of the consul general but at a lower level.
Official Functions
Standards of Social Conduct Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:23 PM
The consul general, consuls, and vice consuls need business
cards. Decent quality business cards and invitations can be printed
locally.
Special Information Last Updated: 10/1/2003 3:52 PM
Health and Medicine
The American Consulate has a small medical unit staffed by a
physician who is supported by both the Ankara Embassy Health Unit
and several regional medical officers who visit periodically. Health
Unit services include but are not limited to health maintenance,
management of acute and chronic problems, professional referrals,
and immunizations. Pharmacy services are limited. A local company
provides laboratory services.
Personnel and their family members who require medical attention
are usually first seen in the Health Unit. If necessary, they will
be referred to one of the small core of American board-certified
physicians for specialty care or consultations. Patients requiring
hospitalization are sent to the local, privately owned Vehbi Koç
Vakfi American Hospital.
Personnel are strongly advised to bring at least a 1-year supply
of all prescription and over-the-counter medication, which they
anticipate needing for themselves or their family members
(particularly children’s medicines and cold/sinus medication). A
cool-mist humidifier is essential during the cool months when
heating causes very dry air and pollution from coal burning is at
its highest.
Customs and Shipping
Customs procedures are lengthy and exasperating. Expect a long
wait for household effects and vehicle shipments. The Consulate
General’s GSO will do everything in its power to reduce this delay.
Because of bureaucratic hurdles at Customs, it is strongly
recommended that clothing and other essential items be included in
airfreight shipments.
According to Turkish customs regulations, airfreight shipments
should include only “personal belongings,” e.g., clothing, books,
kitchen pans, portable radios, and other small appliances (travel
alarm, hairdryer, and iron). Airfreight can be cleared upon the
employee’s arrival with their diplomatic passport. Turkish customs
does not consider fur coats and stereo equipment as “personal
belongings” these items must be included in household effects.
A list of all electrical appliances, including brand name, model,
and serial number, must be hand-carried to post (employees with
consular titles are exempt from this requirement). With this list,
GSO can prepare the customs documentation in advance of the arrival
of shipments and speed up clearance procedures. It is also wise to
bring to post the airway bill number; this will help track
airfreight shipments and avoid delays in delivering shipments to
permanent quarters.
Household effects and personally owned vehicles cannot be cleared
without a Turkish identity card, which is obtain from the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs after the employee’s arrival. GSO provides a
hospitality kit of essentials (bedding, towels, pots/pans, dishes,
utensils, etc.) for employee use until household effects and/or
airfreight arrives.
The following information is provided for shipment of
unaccompanied air baggage (UAB, HHE, and personally owned vehicles
(POV) per 6 FAM 161.2: There are no limitations on the size or
weight of shipping containers. HHE and POV shipments must be sent
through ELSO Antwerp, Belgium. Antwerp is the port of discharge. We
recommend that UAB shipments be sent directly to Istanbul.
All shipments (HHE, UAB, and POV) must be addressed as follows:
(Name of Employee) American Consulate General Istanbul, Turkey
Passport and Visa Requirements
Employees and family members must obtain Turkish visas before
arrival. This is imperative in order to obtain a Turkish identity
card; HHE and POVs may not be cleared from customs without one.
Bring to post no fewer than 15 passport-size photographs for each
family member; these are needed to obtain Turkish identity and
tax-exemption cards.
Consulate - Adana
Post City Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:28 PM
Adana is 30 miles from the Mediterranean Sea, a 5- to 7-hour
drive from Ankara and 8 hours by car from Damascus. The sixth
largest city in Turkey with a population of over 1 million, it is a
medium-income provincial capital on the rich delta plain of the area
once known as Cilicia.
Adana is an agricultural and industrial city. The old town center
lies along the banks of the Seyhan River. As in many Turkish cities,
this original hub is surrounded by newer residential areas and
fringed with squatter settlements. New Adana lies to the north,
between the railroad and Çukurova University, on the lake formed by
the Seyhan Dam.
Adana has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Excavations at
Tarsus and Mersin (within an hour’s drive of Adana) have exposed
layers of civilizations going back to Neolithic times, possibly as
early as 6000 BC.
Numerous powers have dominated and settled Adana as they fought
their way across Anatolia. Alexander the Great passed through the
area when he destroyed the Persian Empire and conquered the Middle
East. After Alexander’s death, Adana became part of the Seleucid
state.
The Romans conquered the area after centuries of Greek rule.
Reminiscent of Roman rule is the stone bridge across the Seyhan
River built by Hadrian that is still in use today. In AD 1132,
Armenians took over Adana, and it became a center of Armenian
culture. In 1515 the Turks captured it. It remained a part of the
Ottoman Empire until the end of World War I.
Adana’s summers are hot and humid with very little rainfall. In
winter the temperature rarely falls below freezing, yet rains that
last for days make it seem colder, and it can be very damp. Fall and
spring are magnificent, with sunny days and pleasantly cool
evenings. When compared with the U.S., the climate of Adana
resembles that of the cotton-growing areas of Mississippi and Texas.
The Cilician Plain (now called Çukurova) has been described as
the “Texas of Turkey,” where cotton and citrus fruits are the
principal crops, and farmers and textile manufacturers dominate the
region's economy. Many Turks in the area speak some Arabic or
another European language, but English is the most common second
language for businessmen.
Adana is connected with the rest of Turkey by a good system of
roads, and with Ankara and Istanbul by daily air and train service.
Coastal steamers call at nearby Iskenderun and Mersin en route to
Turkish ports and northern Cyprus. Travel on secondary roads is
difficult during the rainy seasons but feasible throughout the rest
of the year. Transportation within the city includes both motor and
horse-drawn vehicles.
Most of the American community is made up of U.S. Air Force and
attached U.S. Government civilian personnel stationed at Incirlik, a
Turkish air base 9 miles east of the city. About 500 American
families reside in Adana proper.
The Post and Its Administration Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:30 PM
The Adana consular district encompasses 22 provinces located in
southeastern Turkey, from Mersin province in the West, to the
Iranian border, and from Tunceli province in the north to Turkey’s
southern borders with Syria and Iraq.
The Consulate is located in the Bossa apartment building at the
corner of Vali Yolu and Atatürk Caddesi, a main thoroughfare of
Adana that runs from the center of town to the railroad station.
The Consulate telephone number is (90) (322) 459–1551. The
Consulate’s 24-hour fax is (90) (322) 457–6591. The APO address for
the Consulate is PSC 94, APO AE 09824. The Consulate’s fiscal
affairs are handled by the Embassy in Ankara.
Housing
Temporary Quarters Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:30 PM
Temporary hotel accommodations can be arranged in Adana. The
recommended hotels have single and double rooms within per diem.
Cheaper accommodations are available.
Housing
Permanent Housing Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:31 PM
All State Department personnel are provided with furnished
government quarters. The principal officer occupies a stand-alone
residence and the other two officers each occupying a spacious
full-floor apartment.
Housing
Furnishings Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:31 PM
In addition to furniture, rugs, and drapes, the residences are
provided with transformers, a washer and dryer, an electric stove,
two refrigerators, and a vacuum cleaner. The principal officer’s
home also has a freezer, silver flatware and china for 12 place
settings, a silver tea service, and guest linen.
A Hospitality Kit is available for newcomers until their
airfreight shipments arrive. Other items essential to settling in
are generally available at the Incirlik BX.
Housing
Utilities and Equipment Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:32 PM
The electric current is 220v, and after many years of
improvements, is relatively reliable and stable.
Food Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:32 PM
Food supplies on the local market vary widely according to the
season. In the fall and winter months, meats, fruits, and vegetables
are plentiful. Local beef and lamb are inexpensive and easy to find,
although quality may vary. Fruits and vegetables are seasonal but
abundant, inexpensive, and of excellent quality.
The commissary at Incirlik carries a good supply of staples,
canned goods, baby food, and frozen meats and vegetables. Dairy
products and bakery goods are also available in the commissary.
Local pastries and bread are quite good.
A liquor store at Incirlik carries wine, beer, spirits, and
liqueurs. Spirits are rationed to five bottles per person per month.
Good Turkish wines are available on the local market.
Clothing Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:33 PM
In the intense summer heat, lightweight cottons and washable
fabrics are most comfortable. Sports attire and swimsuits are useful
for picnics and beach parties. During the winter, warm clothing is
necessary since seasonal rains bring damp cold. Indoor clothing
needs to be warmer than that normally worn in U.S. homes since the
apartments are less heated; medium-weight coats are sufficient for
outdoors. Raincoats, boots, and umbrellas are also necessary during
the winter rainy season.
Ready-made clothing of suitable quality and style is usually
available. An adequate selection of men’s, women’s, and children’s
clothing is sold at the BX. Adana has good tailors and dressmakers.
Good local fabrics are also available.
Clothing
Men Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:34 PM
During the summer and warm months of spring and fall, Consulate
personnel follow local custom in going tie-less and coat-less in
short-sleeved shirts. Summer suits or sport coats are normally worn
only for evening social functions.
Clothing
Women Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:34 PM
At daytime social functions, Turkish women wear attractive dressy
suits and afternoon dresses. Women customarily go without stockings
during the hot summer months. Most foreign women feel self-conscious
on the streets in shorts or sleeveless clothes. At dinners and
cocktail parties, well-to-do Turkish women wear European fashions
either purchased abroad or made by local dressmakers after European
fashions. Eveningwear is usually dark or black. Turkish
businesswomen wear attire appropriate for the season and similar in
style to that worn by American businesswomen.
Clothing
Children Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:35 PM
Children’s clothing requirements are the same as in the U.S. with
boots, hats, and mittens needed in the coldest of winter weather.
Supplies and Services
Supplies Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:36 PM
Cosmetics, toiletries, medicines, entertainment accessories,
linens, etc. are available in the BX. Tobacco can be purchased at
the commissary and shoppette, although cigarettes are rationed to
four cartons per person per month. The BX usually stocks cribs,
strollers, playpens, and toys. Luggage and sports equipment are also
available.
Spare parts for most U.S.-made automobiles may be acquired
locally; the BX also carries some parts and can order others. It is
a good idea to bring along a store of parts for your vehicle,
especially those that need to be replaced periodically under normal
wear and tear. For anything not found on the Base, catalog companies
ship items to Adana via APO, provided weight and size restrictions
are met.
Supplies and Services
Basic Services Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:37 PM
Good barbering and beauty salons are available both at Incirlik
and in Adana proper. Adequate dry cleaners exist locally and at
Incirlik. Electricians, plumbers, and carpenters can make repairs.
However, it is always important to determine an individual’s
qualifications in advance. Incirlik has an appliance repair shop.
Supplies and Services
Domestic Help Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:37 PM
Household help for general cleaning and laundry is available.
Domestics receive the current Turkish Lira equivalent of $11 to $12
per day. Good cooks can be found locally and babysitters can often
be found in the large American community.
Religious Activities Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:38 PM
The USAF Chapel at Incirlik offers Catholic and Protestant
services. There is also a Catholic Church in downtown Adana. Jewish,
Latter-day Saint, and other denominational services occasionally are
held at Incirlik. Adana has a small Jewish community and a
synagogue.
Education
Dependent Education Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:38 PM
Children of U.S. Government personnel attend the dependent school
at Incirlik on a tuition basis. The school, fully accredited by the
North Central Association, offers kindergarten through high school.
Preschool is available at Incirlik for 3- and 4-year-olds.
Education
Special Needs Education Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:39 PM
Private Turkish classes can be arranged. Although Incirlik
schools offer no special education program per se, arrangements can
be made for children who require minimal additional tutoring.
Recreation and Social Life
Sports Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:49 PM
A gymnasium, a swimming pool, tennis courts, handball and squash
courts, a nine-hole golf course, and a bowling alley at Incirlik are
open to U.S. Government civilian personnel.
Ample opportunity for hunting (a license is necessary and is
available to diplomats only) and fishing exists within a day’s drive
of Adana. Wild boars are found near Tarsus, and migratory waterfowl
gather in the salt marshes south of Adana. Trout fishing is
available in the mountains near Kahramanmaras. Hunting and fishing
equipment can be purchased through the BX or Rod and Gun Club at
Incirlik.
Adana also has two private clubs (riding and tennis), which U.S.
diplomatic personnel can join.
Aqualand, a water park, is open to the public and offers water
activities for children and adults.
Recreation and Social Life
Touring and Outdoor Activities Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:50 PM
Recreation for most Americans revolves around picnicking and
swimming. The nearby beaches and mountains provide relief from the
heat on weekends. Beaches along the Mediterranean are undeveloped
and beautiful. A few campgrounds have been established as part of
the national program to attract tourists to Turkey. Several
moderately priced hotels with excellent beaches are within a 2-hour
drive of Adana.
Adana is literally surrounded by undeveloped archeological sites.
Ruins of medieval castles and cities from the Greek to Armenian eras
are within easy driving distance over good but heavily traveled
roads. The Adana consular district is rich in historical sites, many
dating back to Hittite times. The town of Tarsus, about 25 miles
west of Adana on the Mersin Road, is renowned as the birthplace of
St. Paul the Apostle.
Recreation and Social Life
Entertainment Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:50 PM
Cultural activity in Adana is increasing. Local theater
productions are in Turkish, however, Adana has a symphony season and
hosts visiting dance troupes throughout the year. First-rate cinemas
feature Turkish, European, and American films. Foreign films usually
have Turkish subtitles. The cinema at Incirlik offers American
movies, including a Saturday children’s matinee. The video rental
shop on the base rents VHS videocassettes of recent releases and
many classics.
There are several nightclubs that offer dancing, food and snacks,
and a variety of musical entertainment. Americans enjoy several
clubs, hotels, and restaurants patronized by Adana officials and
business representatives. U.S. Government personnel may join the
combined club at Incirlik, which has a full restaurant, and bar.
Recreation and Social Life
Social Activities
Among Americans Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:52 PM Most Americans
living in the Adana area reside on the Base and their social
activities center around the facilities at Incirlik. Americans
living off Base are more integrated into the Turkish community and
their social activities more closely resemble those of their
neighbors.
Recreation and Social Life
Social Activities
International Contacts Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:52 PM
Entertainment within the Turkish community consists largely of
dinner parties during the fall, winter, and spring to which
Americans or other foreigners are frequently invited. In the summer
months, Turks move to Istanbul, the mountains, or the beach to
escape the heat and humidity, and social life in Adana is virtually
suspended. Even though many of the locals speak English, any effort
made to speak Turkish is welcome and appreciated.
The TAA (Turkish American Association) affords excellent
opportunities for making Turkish friends. It is staffed by a locally
hired director and is located at 27, Bes Ocak Caddesi, Resat Bey
Mahallesi.
Official Functions
Nature of Functions Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:54 PM
Since the American Consulate is the only diplomatic establishment
in Adana, official and semiofficial contacts are limited to those
between the Turkish and American communities. A minimum of protocol
is required. Consulate officers routinely call on the honorary
consuls in Iskenderun and Mersin during visits to those cities.
On arrival, the principal officer calls on appropriate provincial
and municipal officials. Consuls arrange calls after consultation
with the principal officer. Business cards can be printed locally.
Official Functions
Standards of Social Conduct Last Updated: 10/1/2003 1:55 PM
Standards of social conduct are similar to those of other posts.
In Adana, attention must be given to showing respect for
conventional Muslim customs. Women should take care in their dress,
conduct, and appearance on the street at night, especially when
without a male companion.
Special Information Last Updated: 10/1/2003 3:56 PM
Special Information
Consulate personnel sometimes use the excellent 50-bed Air Force
hospital for medical treatment, including ob-gyn consultations,
though deliveries are usually handled in a local Turkish hospital.
When necessary, patients are evacuated to a hospital in London.
There are English-speaking Turkish doctors in the city of Adana
who have had training in the U.S. However, their equipment is
limited and certain medicines are sometimes not available on the
local market. Necessary surgery, eye examinations, and diagnostic
work should be taken care of before coming to post.
Those assigned to Adana should be inoculated against typhoid,
polio, tetanus, cholera, and diphtheria. Gamma globulin shots also
may be considered. Because of the hot weather in the summer and
humidity in both summer and winter, persons with arrested TB or
sinus conditions should consult a doctor before coming to post.
Immunizations are available for a fee at the base hospital.
Dental care also is available from Western-trained local dentists,
many of whom speak excellent English.
The rapid urbanization of the area has had negative effects,
though these are being systematically if slowly improved: noise,
dirt, inadequate sewage disposal systems, and moderate traffic jams.
Malaria outbreaks unfortunately have become more frequent in the
past several years. This is due to an increase in breeding places
resulting from expanded irrigation in rural areas, poor drainage in
the city itself, and the development of the anopheles mosquito
resistant to conventional insecticides. Some people take malaria
prophylactics. Hepatitis is endemic.
Post Orientation Program
The Consulate provides orientation and security briefings for new
arrivals and their adult dependents.
AMERICAN PRESENCE POST IZMIR
Izmir is located at the head of a 50-mile long bay off the Aegean
Sea, approximately 8-hour drive or 90-minute plane ride from Ankara
and from Istanbul. Turkey’s third-largest city (with a population of
more than 2 million) and second-largest port, it lies in the heart
of Turkey’s historic Aegean region.
A center of international commerce from ancient times, Izmir
remains the capital of a rich agricultural and commercial region
while hosting a growing tourism industry. The American Presence
Post, newly opened in 2002, 9 years after the closure of the old
Consulate General in 1993, is located in the upscale central
residential and commercial district of Alsancak near the city’s new
bayside park, the Kordon — which features many outdoor cafes and
restaurants — and its large Culture Park, with tennis courts,
exhibition halls, and an amusement park.
Just to the south of Alsancak is the old city center of Konak and
across the bay, connected by a regular ferry service, lies the
middle-class residential district of Karsiyaka. Surrounding this
sophisticated and cosmopolitan center, Izmir has large working-class
and factory districts, beyond which lie farmland and
tourist-oriented beach resorts.
Today’s Izmir occupies the site of the ancient Greek city of
Smyrna, traditional birthplace of the poet Homer. As an important
trading port, it attracted a diverse population over the centuries,
including significant Greek, Turkish, and Jewish communities. Greek
forces, which occupied the city at the end of the First World War,
were expelled, along with the ethnic Greek population, by Turkish
forces under the command of Turkish nationalist leader Kemal Ataturk
during Turkey’s War of Independence. On September 9, 1922 — still
celebrated as a local holiday — the last of the Greek forces
evacuated the city, which was then largely destroyed in a
devastating fire. Modern Izmir emerged from the ruins as an almost
entirely Turkish city with a small but commercially significant
Jewish minority.
Izmir enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate dominated by long
spring and autumn seasons featuring warm and sunny days and
pleasantly cool evenings punctuated by a short but rainy and chilly
winter and a briefly hot and humid summer.
It is located within easy driving distance of the ruins of the
ancient cities of Ephesus, Pergamon, Assos, Aphrodisias and Troy,
and an hour’s drive from the Caribbean-like upscale beach resort of
Cesme and the cruise port town of Kusadasi. The International Izmir
Festival every summer features world-famous musical and theatrical
performances.
Izmir is connected to the rest of Turkey by a decent and
improving road system. Nearby Adana Menderes International Airport
offers daily flights to Ankara and almost hourly flights to Istanbul
(with international connections beyond), as well as daily direct
flights to Germany. Car ferries operate regularly between Cesme and
Kusadasi and nearby Greek Islands. Plentiful taxis and frequent
cross-bay ferries provide transportation within the city.
Although most Izmirlis do not speak a second language, many of
the business and cultural elite of the city speak some English or
French. The American community includes approximately 400 military
personnel and their families attached to the NATO Joint Southeast
Command with another 1,500 or so American businesspeople, academics,
and retirees making up the bulk of the U.S. community in the Izmir
area.
The Post and Its Administration
Although not formally designated, the APP’s area of
responsibility includes Izmir province and neighboring provinces
along the Aegean coast and immediately inland. The APP is located on
the top floor of a commercial building on a quiet side street in the
downtown Alsancak district.
The APP telephone number is +90 (232) 464–8755. Its fax number is
+90 (232) 646–8916. The APO address for the APP is PSC 88, Box 29,
APO, AE 09821. The APP’s fiscal affairs are handled by the Embassy
in Ankara.
Temporary Quarters
USG personnel traveling on official orders can obtain, on a space
available basis, non-cost quarters at the downtown Hotel Mercure on
one of the three floors permanently rented by the U.S. military.
These quarters consist of hotel rooms on floors with upgraded
security features, which include televisions showing AFN programming
and U.S.-standard VCRs. Persons with access to U.S. military
facilities staying at the Mercure also have access to a small AAFES
shoppette offering basic necessities for sale in U.S. currency for a
few hours a day. Advance reservations through the APP are required
for use of these quarters.
Permanent Quarters
The APP’s consul is provided with furnished government quarters.
The currently leased quarters are a spacious 3-bedroom, 1½ bath
apartment located on Alsancak’s fashionable Kordon street and a
two-block walk from the APP.
Furnishings
In addition to furniture and drapes, the residence is provided
with transformers, a washer and dryer, electric stove, refrigerator,
dishwasher, and a vacuum cleaner. No official service set is
provided, nor is a hospitality kit currently available. Items
essential to settling in are generally available either from the
small AAFES BX and commissary located in downtown Izmir or from
local supermarkets and department stores.
Utilities and Equipment
The electric current is 220v, 50 Hz. Electricity service in the
Alsancak area is reliable and stable, but power outages occur
occasionally in other parts of the city. High-speed cable Internet
access is available in the Alsancak area and is provided at both the
APP and the current APP residence.
Food
Izmir has several large Western-style supermarkets featuring a
wide variety of high-quality foods, including inexpensive meats
(beef and lamb), fruits, and vegetables. Numerous small greengrocers
also stock an excellent variety of fruits and vegetables in season.
The Alsancak area also features several “gourmet” stores stocking a
small variety of imported European and American goods.
A small AAFES commissary located near the APP also stocks a
variety of U.S. products, including dairy products, canned goods,
baby foods, pet foods, various staples, and frozen meats and
vegetables. Good quality bottled waters are widely available both in
the local market and at the commissary. Local pastries and breads
are excellent.
The AAFES BX, co-located with the commissary, stocks a small
variety of wine, beer, spirits, and liqueurs. Good Turkish wines are
available on the local market; the nearby village of Sirince is
known for its quality wines and olive oil, which are sold by several
merchants in the village.
Clothing
General. Lightweight cottons and washable fabrics are most
comfortable during the hot and humid summer months; spring fashions
are appropriate during most of the year. Sports attire, good walking
shoes and swimsuits are useful for picnics, beach parties, and
tourist excursions.
During the winter, warm clothing is necessary since seasonal
rains bring damp cold, and both residences and office buildings in
Izmir are often poorly-heated and constructed to keep heat out, not
in. Raincoats, boots, and umbrellas are also necessary during the
rainy winter season. Stores in the Alsancak area feature a wide
variety of both business and casual clothes, including most
international brands and the latest fashions, albeit often at higher
prices than in the U.S.
The AAFES BX is very poorly stocked with a small variety of lower
priced men’s and women’s casual clothing and has virtually no
children’s clothing, although it will fill orders for items in the
AAFES catalogue. Izmir has several good tailors and dressmakers;
inexpensive but very high-quality custom-made leather fashions are a
local specialty. Good Turkish-made fabrics are also available.
Men. At the height of summer, the APP follows local custom in
going tie-less and coat-less in short-sleeved shirts, although even
then calls on ranking government officials and public appearances
should be conducted in business attire. During the rest of the year,
business attire similar to that worn in Washington is appropriate.
The APP’s consul, along with his/her spouse, is occasionally
invited to local black-tie functions, including the annual formal
dinner of the honorary consular corps.
Women. Women in Izmir are very fashion-conscious and tend to
follow European trends. At daytime social functions, they wear
attractive dressy suits and afternoon dresses. At dinners and
cocktail parties, well-to-do Izmir women wear European fashions
either purchased abroad or made by local dressmakers after European
fashions. Eveningwear is usually dark or black, although it can be
more colorful during the warm summer months.
In the Alsancak area and in tourist locations, women during
summer months are quite comfortable in shorts or sleeveless
fashions, but other parts of Turkey, especially away from the Aegean
coast, are far more conservative. Turkish businesswomen wear attire
appropriate for the season and similar in style to that worn by
American businesswomen.
Children. Children’s clothing requirements are the same as in the
U.S., with boots, hats and rain gear needed in the coolest winter
months.
Supplies and Services
Supplies. Toiletries and a limited variety of basic cosmetics,
medicines, entertainment accessories, linens, etc. are available at
the small AAFES BX located near the APP; some European and good
quality Turkish supplies are available as well at local
supermarkets, department stores and pharmacies.
Tobacco can be purchased at the BX. Baby and children’s supplies
can be ordered through the BX, but are not held in normal stock. The
BX is also very poorly stocked with a very small variety of luggage,
sports equipment, and hardware, although these items are available
at higher prices locally.
Major European and Japanese automobile manufacturers have dealers
in Izmir and its immediate vicinity stocking spare parts for their
vehicles; spare parts for most U.S.-made automobiles can be ordered
through the BX but are not held in normal stock. It is a good idea
to bring along a store of parts for your vehicle, especially those
that need to be replaced periodically under normal wear and tear.
Some items can be ordered from catalogue companies or over the
Internet and shipped by USPS to the APO, provided weight and size
restrictions are met.
Basic Services. Good barbering and beauty salons are available
both at the BX and locally. Adequate dry-cleaning is also available
both at the BX and locally. Local electricians, plumbers and
carpenters can make repairs. The BX has an appliance repair shop.
Domestic Help. Household help for general cleaning and laundry is
available; some English-speaking nannies are also available.
Domestics receive the Turkish lira equivalent of approximately $15
per day. The Community Liaison Office at the 425th Air Squadron base
has a list of domestics who have worked previously for American
families, some of whom have references from their previous
employers. Good cooks can also be found locally.
Religious Activities
The chaplain’s office at the 425th Air Squadron base in Izmir
offers Protestant and Catholic services at a church in Alsancak.
English-language Protestant services for several denominations are
also held regularly at the Anglican Church located near the APP.
English-language Catholic services are also occasionally held at the
shrine of St. Mary in Selcuk, about a 1-hour drive from Izmir. There
is currently no Latter-day Saints congregation in Izmir. The local
Greek Orthodox Church holds services only on major holidays. Six
local synagogues, including one in Alsancak located near the APP,
offer regular Sephardic-rite Jewish services. Turkish-language
Muslim services are held at the Alsancak mosque near the APP and
numerous other mosques throughout the city. There are no Buddhist or
Hindu communities in Izmir.
Education
Dependent Education. At this time, there is no accredited
English-language school available for dependents in Izmir. It may be
possible to register dependents in a local private school, which
offers some high school classes in English to its Turkish student
body.
Special Educational Opportunities. Private Turkish classes can be
arranged easily either with individual tutors or at the Ankara
University-affiliated TOMER school for foreign languages. There are
no English-language special educational facilities available in
Izmir.
Post Orientation Program
Persons assigned to the Izmir APP are welcome to participate in
the orientation programs offered by the 425th Air Squadron base.
Recreation and Social Life
Sports. The gymnasium facilities at the 425th Air Squadron’s
Club, located near the Izmir Hilton Hotel, are open to persons
assigned to the Izmir APP. In addition, several hotels in Izmir
offer memberships in their modern health clubs.
There is a public tennis club in the Culture Park in Alsancak and
a riding club in Buca. The Grand Efes Hotel, currently closed for
renovation, has a large swimming pool, which can be used by members
of its health club. The 425th Air Squadron has an active scuba club.
Touring and Outdoor Activities. The most popular recreational
activities for Americans in Izmir are touring the area’s rich
collection of outstanding archeological sites, picturesque villages,
and picnicking and swimming at the Aegean coast’s world-class beach
resorts.
The extensive Roman ruins at Ephesus, one of Turkey’s most
popular tourist destinations, are an hour’s drive away, and the
ruins of ancient Troy, Pergamon, Assos and Aphrodisias are popular
destinations for day trips from Izmir. Many of the Aegean beaches
near Izmir have received European “blue flag” status for
cleanliness, and nearby Cesme has become Turkey’s most fashionable
beach resort, featuring hotels and accommodations in all price
ranges.
Izmir residents also enjoy touring the cruise port town of
Kusadasi, located near Ephesus. Both Cesme and Kusadasi have large
numbers of boats for hire, and sailing is an extremely popular
activity among both native Izmirlis and foreign residents. “Gulet”
cruises on sailboats to the many picturesque and unspoiled coves
along the Aegean coast are available. A local travel agency has an
arrangement with the 425th Air Squadron to offer group package tours
on most weekends and holidays to American groups.
Entertainment. Izmir has a symphony orchestra and an opera
offering weekly performances, and foreign musical groups
occasionally visit Izmir. First-rate cinemas throughout the city
feature Turkish, American, and European films; foreign films are
shown in original language with Turkish subtitles. The Turkish
American Association occasionally shows older American films.
The 425th Air Squadron base has a small video rental shop
featuring both VHS and DVD films in U.S. standard. Within Izmir, the
most popular evening activity for both locals and foreign residents
is to patronize the city’s large number of sidewalk cafes,
restaurants, and bars in the fashionable Alsancak and Karsiyaka
districts, including many facing Izmir’s bay, or to stroll in
Alsancak’s Culture Park or along its waterfront Kordon park.
Many of the cafes and restaurants feature musical groups; some
also offer large-screen TV coverage of sporting events. During the
summer months, the city sponsors a variety of special events along
the waterfront, including outdoor films and international speedboat
and sailing competitions. U.S. Government personnel and their
families may also join the club at the 425th Air Squadron, which
hosts frequent social activities and includes among its facilities a
cafeteria, bar and game room.
Social Activities
International Contacts. Izmir residents are proud of the
cosmopolitan atmosphere of their city and actively welcome foreign
residents into their social circles. Entertainment often consists of
dinner parties in people’s homes, but Izmirlis love to gather with
their friends in restaurants, cafes and bars and often entertain
informally and on short notice.
During the summer months, many Izmir residents flee the city on
weekends for their summer homes in Cesme, which can vary from humble
but cozy “villalar” to large houses with swimming pools. Invitations
to friends to spend an afternoon or evening (or stay overnight) in
these summer homes in Cesme are frequent; such invitations
invariably include a barbeque party. Although some of the Izmir
social elite speaks some English or French, any effort to speak
Turkish is deeply appreciated.
Official Functions
Nature of Functions. In addition to the APP, Izmir hosts a German
consulate-general and British, Greek, and Italian consulates.
Contacts within this small diplomatic community are frequent, close,
and informal. Izmir also has more than 30 honorary consuls, who are
prominent local businessmen and women representing a wide variety of
countries. The honorary consular corps holds monthly luncheons and
an annual black-tie dinner, the latter attended by the regional
governor and other high-ranking officials.
Upon arrival, the APP’s consul calls on appropriate provincial
and municipal officials. Business cards can be printed locally.
Standards of Social Conduct
Standards of social conduct are similar to those in other posts.
Although Turkey is an almost entirely Muslim nation, many Izmir
residents strongly support the country’s secular system and strive
to act in accordance with contemporary European conventions.
Medical Care
There are no U.S. Government doctors in Izmir. Some local
physicians speak English and have had training in the U.S. or
Europe, and hospitals associated with the two-largest universities
in Izmir, Dokuz Eylul University and Ege University, provide a
decent level of medical care, but standards of care and equipment
are below those in the U.S.
Some, but not all, prescription medicines or their European
equivalents are available on the local market. Necessary surgery,
eye examinations, dental examinations, and diagnostic work should be
done before coming to Izmir. Izmir’s climate is generally healthy,
but large numbers of mosquitoes and other insects plague the city
during the summer months; malaria and other insect-borne diseases,
however, do not appear to be a problem.
Rest and Recuperation (R&R)
All posts in Turkey have been authorized as R&R posts. The
designated overseas relief point is Frankfurt, Germany, or,
alternatively, any designated point in the Continental U.S. may be
used as an R&R destination. The U.S. Government pays the
transportation costs for the employee and his or her family members
residing at post to and from the designated relief point. Employees
assigned to a 2-year tour to Ankara unbroken by home leave will be
authorized one R&R. Those having a 3-year tour in Ankara unbroken by
home leave will be authorized two R&R trips.
The post normally will not grant R&R travel within 6 months of
the beginning or end of an employee’s tour. Employees may select
alternate destinations and modes of travel. However, before making
any final arrangements, personnel should check with the general
services officer to determine how much of the cost of the travel
will be reimbursed by the government.
Military attaches and Marine Security Guards should consult the
appropriate Station Report for further information on conditions of
service in Ankara. Some of the information and regulations described
in this report do not apply uniformly to those on temporary duty.
Notes For Travelers
Customs, Duties, and Passage
Customs and Duties Last Updated: 10/1/2003 3:16 PM
All personnel are granted free entry of one motor vehicle,
unaccompanied baggage, and personal and household effects. There are
some minor differences in import privileges and procedures for
diplomatic and non-diplomatic personnel. Most personnel are accorded
diplomatic status, however.
An important document known as a “takrir” is obtained from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cover the entry of an automobile and
personal and household effects of personnel accredited as diplomats.
There are no limits on the volume or weight of property that
people with takrirs may import. In order for non-diplomatic
personnel and some officers assigned to the Consulates to import
automobiles, a “letter of guarantee” must be obtained from the
Protocol Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Duty-free
imports by non-diplomatic personnel are not limited in volume or
weight by Turkish regulations, but entry is restricted to a period
of 2 months prior to, or 6 months after, the employee’s arrival.
Customs clearance of household goods and personal effects is also
by “letter of guarantee,” which will be done by GSO personnel at the
appropriate customs office. Diplomatic and non-diplomatic Embassy
and Consulate personnel may not import more than two each of any
electrical items such as televisions, VCR’s, or refrigerators.
Personnel with diplomatic status may import one vehicle of any
type. They can import a second vehicle for use by family members.
Non-diplomats may import one vehicle of any type and sell it only to
another non-diplomatic official or diplomat, not to a Turkish
citizen.
Household goods should be inventoried in detail at the time of
packing for shipment to Turkey. Special attention should be paid to
noting items such as electrical appliances, furniture, original
works of art (and copies), and other valuable items. All personnel
entering Turkey should complete any customs declarations requested
by Turkish officials.
Household goods brought to Turkey, as well as certain items
purchased through BX and AAFES facilities, must be accounted for
either by export or by authorized disposal upon final departure.
This regulation applies to diplomatic and non-diplomatic personnel.
Packages coming into the country by APO are not subject to
customs inspection or duty. Items brought into the country this way
are solely for personal use and may not be sold, bartered, thrown
out, or given away. When selling a car, all sales formalities must
be completed before the employee leaves Turkey permanently.
There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency, including
dollars and travelers checks that may be brought into Turkey.
Turkish regulations prohibit the mailing of currencies and
negotiable instruments into or out of the country. Authorized
personnel are allowed to send U.S. dollar paychecks and personal
checks through the APO system.
All employees can expedite the customs clearance procedure by
notifying the Embassy GSO of the number of lift vans being shipped
and the approximate weight of each and by providing a detailed
inventory, information on the port of origin, and the name of the
packer, shipper, or carrier. This information should be forwarded as
soon as possible.
All unaccompanied air and surface shipments of Mission personnel
should be addressed as follows:
American Ambassador American Embassy Owner’s Name Ankara, Turkey
Shipments for consular personnel should be addressed to the
American Consulate General (or Consulate), Istanbul (or Adana),
Turkey (Name of Employee).
Customs, Duties, and Passage
Passage Last Updated: 10/1/2003 3:17 PM
All Americans traveling to Turkey must have valid visas. All
employees coming to Turkey on an official assignment for a tour of
duty under U.S. Government orders must travel with a diplomatic or
official passport (not a tourist passport). The Government of Turkey
charges no fee for your visa if you are on official travel. Holders
of official and diplomatic passports must obtain their visas from
the nearest Turkish Embassy before arriving in Turkey (The only
Consulate that will accommodate a request for a diplomatic visa is
the Turkish Consulate in Frankfurt.). Turkish Embassies will only
issue a 3-month visa. However, once you arrive in Turkey, your
passport will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a
multiple-entry visa valid for the length of your tour.
Nonofficial travelers to Turkey (i.e., tourists traveling on
regular passports) must also obtain a Turkish visa and pay a $100
fee. This fee must be paid in U.S. dollars. For visits of less than
90 days, these visas can be obtained either prior to traveling to
Turkey or at ports of entry into Turkey. For visits of more than 90
days, the visas must be obtained prior to traveling to Turkey.
After arriving at post, the Human Resources Office will apply to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for identification and value added
tax exemption cards for eligible family members (over 12 years of
age). For family members over 18 years of age who plan to live in
Ankara or visit for periods up to 3 months or longer, the Human
Resources Office must obtain residence permits.
Family members who are visiting for less than 3 months can enter
with diplomatic passports and a visa. If a visa is obtained at a
Turkish Embassy, it will be free of charge. If obtained at the port
of entry, the fee will be $100. Diplomatic passports will suffice as
identification for children under the age of 12 years. (It is
necessary to arrive at post with at least 15 passport size
photographs for each family member; these photographs will be used
to complete the many forms and types of identification needed while
in Turkey.)
Domestic employees planning to accompany families to Turkey need
to have a “letter of undertaking” for a work visa application. The
Human Resources Office must be contacted prior to arrival with
enough time to forward this letter to you. It will need to be
completed, signed, and returned to the Human Resources Office. The
letter will then be forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for
approval. Once approved, it will be mailed back to you. The domestic
employee will need to present the “letter of undertaking” to a
Turkish Embassy or Consulate to obtain a work visa. Once the
domestic employee arrives at post, the Human Resources Office will
apply for a residence identification card.
A domestic employee who enters Turkey without a work visa cannot
be registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and may not stay
in Turkey for longer than 3 months. The domestic would have to leave
Turkey and apply for a work visa at a Turkish Embassy or Consulate
abroad in order to obtain working status.
Customs, Duties, and Passage
Pets Last Updated: 10/1/2003 3:18 PM
Pets may be brought into Turkey without quarantine provided they
have certificates showing inoculation against rabies within the past
6 months and freedom from communicable disease within 48 hours of
the time of departure for Turkey. These documents should be prepared
by a veterinarian, notarized by a notary public in the country in
which the veterinarian is authorized to practice, and authenticated
at a Turkish Embassy or Consulate.
Some people have found it difficult to keep dogs as pets in
Ankara and Istanbul. Apartment living presents obvious difficulties,
and it is unwise to allow a dog to run free in the streets. The city
authorities periodically round up, poison, or shoot stray animals,
and sometimes, including licensed animals running free at the time.
Nevertheless, many Americans in the Mission in Ankara do have dogs
or cats.
Firearms and Ammunition Last Updated: 10/1/2003 3:19 PM
Hunting is one of the many outdoor activities enjoyed by American
Mission personnel assigned to Turkey. The host government regulates
importation and use of firearms. The shotgun is the most commonly
used firearm in Turkey. Sporting rifles are not commonly used.
Handguns cannot be imported or shipped to Turkey. American personnel
serving in Turkey cannot legally purchase, possess, or carry a
handgun.
Presently, only category one diplomats may legally import a
firearm into Turkey. Turkish law allows for the importation of only
one rifle and three sporting shotguns. Military personnel not
directly under Chief of Mission authority should check with their
respective organizations in Turkey regarding the legality of
importing a firearm and the requirements that govern the purchase of
a hunting license.
Firearms can only legally enter Turkey in the accompanied baggage
of eligible individuals. Shotguns and rifles cannot be transported
to Turkey in HHE or airfreight. The Government of Turkey considers
this illegal. At the port of entry, Turkish customs will take
possession of the firearm for processing. This will take a minimum
of 1 month and often considerably longer, after which the firearm
will be returned.
It is important to note that if the firearm is deemed illegal
(i.e., is a military-type assault weapon, or is considered by a
local Turkish official to be military in nature), it will be
impounded and returned upon departure from the country. Firearm
owners are responsible for complying with all local laws and
regulations pertaining to the shipment from the point of origin.
Newly assigned personnel should provide to the GSO the make,
model, serial number, and caliber/gauge of the shotgun or rifle they
would like to bring; this information should be offered immediately
upon assignment to Turkey. Early notification of intent to bring a
shotgun or sporting rifle to post is essential to ensure that
eligibility is established, that potential problems with the host
government are minimized, and that Turkish laws regarding the
importation of firearms and the purchase of hunting licenses have
not changed since publication of this report.
Shotgun ammunition (12, 16, and 20 gauge) is widely available in
Turkey. There are no restrictions on shotgun gauges. Only rifles of
standard sporting caliber are permitted. Rifle ammunition is
expensive by American standards and available in limited calibers.
High capacity magazines for rifles are not permitted; the high
capacity can mark the weapon as “military” in style, thereby making
it illegal.
Shotguns are manufactured and available for sale in Turkey. The
Human Resources Office can assist you in obtaining the documents
necessary to purchase one. Sporting rifles are not produced
domestically but are imported and available for sale in limited
quantities at prices several times higher than for similar weapons
in the U.S. The host government tightly controls the sale of rifles.
Furthermore, the purchase of a rifle is subject to additional high
regulatory costs. Hunting opportunities where a rifle is decidedly
advantageous and can be used safely are limited.
The Turkish Central Hunting Commission will issue hunting
licenses only to category one diplomats. The licensing process is
relatively inexpensive but time consuming and tedious. All other
categories of diplomats, staff, and military can be issued only a
temporary (tourist/visitor) hunting license through the Hunting
Tourism Section. These licenses are valid for brief periods of time
and are both restrictive and expensive. The fee can be as much as
$1,000 depending on the type of game to be hunted.
Currency, Banking, and Weights and Measures Last Updated:
10/1/2003 3:19 PM
Local banks offer checking and savings accounts and money
exchange, including ATM facilities, but are not often used by
American personnel because of the complexity of local banking laws.
A checking account in the U.S. should be maintained for deposit of
U.S. dollar paychecks and personal checks. Traveler’s checks are
acceptable in Turkey, but in nearby countries may be sometimes
difficult to cash. Turkish Lira (TL), the official unit of currency,
is used for purchasing goods and services on the Turkish economy.
Most banks are able to transfer funds electronically from one
part of Turkey to another. U.S. postal money orders may be purchased
at the APO.
In February 2001, Turkey adopted a floating exchange rate. The
rate has been subject to short-term fluctuations reflecting
financial market trends with respect to Turkey. As of May 2003, the
rate was about TL 1,500,000 to the dollar.
Turkey uses the metric system.
Taxes, Exchange, and Sale of Property Last Updated: 10/1/2003
3:20 PM
Current Turkish customs regulations state that diplomatic
personnel may sell an automobile only after the vehicle has been in
Turkey for 2 years. However, there is a 1-year limitation for
persons whose assignments are curtailed and who are transferred
permanently out of the country. Permission for the sale of
diplomatic vehicles to individuals not entitled to tax exemption
(mainly Turkish citizens) may not be obtained for vehicles more than
2 years old. The age of a vehicle (i.e., the date of manufacture) is
determined by the ownership/registration document. Vehicles more
than 2 years old may only be transferred to individuals in the same
tax-exempt status or to members of other diplomatic missions.
(Vehicles may also be re-exported or abandoned at Turkish customs.)
After approval has been granted, formal permission must be requested
and received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before a vehicle
may be sold to a Turkish citizen. Diplomatic personnel assigned to
Ankara for longer than 2 years may, after completing the sale of
their first vehicle and clearing the customs document (takrir),
import a second vehicle. The second vehicle may be sold only to
other diplomats or foreigners. Only one vehicle may be sold to a
Turkish citizen. Employees who do not have diplomatic status may
sell their vehicles only to diplomats or foreigners.
The Government of Turkey heavily taxes the sale to Turkish
citizens of motor vehicles that have been imported into Turkey
without payment of duties. A law discourages the importation of
automobiles with engine displacement over 1600 cc. This law applies
to the local sale of vehicles imported by Mission personnel and
cleared through customs after December 29, 1983. The tax is payable
by the buyer. The amount of duty charged depends upon the value of
the car.
In addition to the customs fee, the purchaser must pay a road tax
and automobile acquisition fee, together with storage charges for
the period when the vehicle is impounded by customs. The prospective
seller should be aware that this high taxation might reduce the
amount of money that he can expect to receive for his car.
Nevertheless, many people do sell their cars at prices they find
satisfactory.
There are also regulations governing the sale of other personal
property imported duty free as part of the owner’s accompanied
baggage, unaccompanied airfreight, or HHE. The sale of items valued
over $100 must be approved by the Embassy; some sales must also be
cleared through the Foreign Ministry.
Recommended Reading Last Updated: 10/1/2003 3:32 PM
These titles are provided as a general indication of the material
published on this country. The Department of State does not endorse
unofficial publications.
History/Foreign Policy/Politics/Economics/Travel
Abramowitz, Morton. Turkish Transformation and American Policy.
2000.
Akurgal, Ekrem. Ancient Civilizations and Ruins of Turkey. 1985.
Alexandris, Alexis. The Greek Minority of Istanbul and
Greek-Turkish Relations, 1918–1974. Athens: Center for Asia Minor
Studies, 1983.
And, Metin. A History of Theatre and Popular Entertainment in
Turkey. Ankara: Forum Yayinlari, 1964.
Bahçeli, Tozun. Greek-Turkish Relations Since 1955. Boulder:
Westview Press, 1990.
Bean, George E. Aegean Turkey. 1966. Turkey’s Southern Shore.
1968. Turkey Beyond the Meander. 1971. Lyeian Turkey. 1978.
Berlitz. The Berlitz Travellers Guide to Turkey. 1993.
Birand, Mehmet Ali. The General’s Coup in Turkey. Brassey’s
Defense Publishers: 1987.
Blake, Everett C. and Anna G. Edmonds. Biblical Sites in Turkey.
4th ed. Istanbul: Redhouse Press: 1990.
Brosnahan, Tom. Turkey: A Travel Survival Kit. 4th ed. 1996.
Bugra, Ayse. State and Business in Modern Turkey. Albany: State
University of New York, 1994.
Delaney, Carol. The Seed and the Soil: Gender and Cosmology in
Turkish Village Culture. University of California, 1992.
Erim, Kenan. Aphrodisias: The City of Uenus Aphrodite. 1986.
Freely, John. The Companion Guide to Turkey. Collins: London,
1979.
Gunter, Michael M. The Kurds in Turkey: A Political Dilemma.
Boulder: Westview Press: 1990.
Heper, Metin and Jacob M. Landau, eds. Political Parties and
Democracy in Turkey. LG Tauris & Co.: New York, 1991.
Inalcik, Halil. The Ottoman Empire. 1973.
Itzkowitz, Norman. The Ottoman Empire and Islamic Tradition.
1973.
Kinross, Lord. The Ottoman Centuries: The Rise and Fall of the
Turkish Empire. Morrow Quill Paperbacks: New York, 1979.
Kuniholm, Bruce. The Origins of the Cold War in the Near East.
Princeton, Princeton University Press; 1980.
Landau, Jacob M. Atatürk and the Modernization of Turkey.
Westview Press: Boulder, 1984.
Landau, Jacob. Turkish Nationalism: From Irredentism to
Cooperation. (1995).
Lawlor, Eric. Looking for Osman. Vintage Departures: New York,
1993.
Lloyd, Seton. Ancient Turkey, A Traveller’s History of Anatolia.
1989.
Mango, Andrew. Atatürk. Overlook Press: London, 2000.
McCarthy, Justin. Muslims and Minorities: The Population of
Ottoman Anatolia and the End of the Empire. 1983.
McDonogh, Bernard. Blue Guide Turkey: The Aegean and
Mediterranean Coasts. 1990.
Morris, Roderick Conway. Jem: Memoirs of an Ottoman Secret Agent.
New York, St. Martin's Press: 1988.
Olson, Robert. The Emergence of Kurdish Nationalism and the
Sheikh Said Rebellion, 1880–1925. University of Texas Press: Austin,
1989.
Orga, Irfan. Portrait of a Turkish Family. Macmillan: New York,
1957.
Pope, Nicole and Hugh. Turkey Unveiled: A History of Modern
Turkey. New York, The Overlook Press: 1998.
Poulton, Hugh. Top Hat, Grey Wolf, and Crescent.
Renda, Günsel and C. Max Kortepeter, eds. The Transformation of
Turkish Culture. Kingston Press: Princeton, 1986.
Robins, Philip. Turkey and the Middle East. New York, Council on
Foreign Relations Press: 1991.
Rustow, Dankwart A. Turkey: America’s Forgotten Ally. Council on
Foreign Relations Press: New York: 1987.
Settle, Mary Lee. Turkish Reflections: A Biography of a Place.
Prentice-Hall, New York, 1991.
Shaw, Stanford. From Empire to Republic: A History of the Turkish
War of National Liberation. Ankara, Türk Tarihi Kurumu: 2000.
Stark, Freya. Ionia, A Quest. 1954. The Lycian Shore. 1956.
Stark, Freya. Alexander’s Path from Caria to Cilicia. 1958.
Stark, Freya. Gateways and Caravans: A Portrait of Turkey. 1971.
Steams, Monteagle. Entangled Allies: Policy Toward Greece, Turkey
and Cyprus. New York, Council on Foreign Relations Press: 1992.
Stirling, Paul. Turkish Village. London, Weidenfeld and
Nicholson: 1965.
Sumner-Boyd, Hilary and John Freely Strolling Through Istanbul,
4th ed. Redhouse Press: Istanbul, 1989.
Young, George. Constantinople. New York, Barnes & Noble Books;
1992.
Zürcher, Erik Jan. Turkey: A Modern History, 2nd ed. London, IB
Tauris: 1998.
Art/Literature/Fiction
Acar, Belkis Balpinar. Kilim, Cicim, Zil Sumak. Turkish
Flatweaves. 1983.
Atil, Esin. The Age of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. New York,
Harry I. Abrams, Inc.: 1987.
Freely, Maureen. Life of the Party. 1984 [fiction]
Kemal, Yasar, trans. Edouard Rodit. Memed My Hawk. New York,
Partheon: 1961. [fiction]
Kuran, Abdullah. Sinan: The Grand Old Master of Ottoman
Architecture. 1987.
Macaulay, Rose. The Towers of Trebizond. 1956. [fiction]
Menemencioslu, Numan. Penguin Book of Turkish Verse. London,
Penguin Books: 1978.
Rogers, J.M., ed. The Topkapi Saray Museum: Carpets. Boston,
Little, Brown and Co.: 1971.
Rogers, J.M., ed. The Topkapi Saray Museum: The Treasury. Boston:
Little, Brown and Co., 1987.
Settle, Mary Lee. Blood Tie. 1977. [fiction]
Web Sites
U.S. Embassy Ankara http://turkey.usembassy.gov
http://ankara.usembassy.gov
Click on “Security Matters” for country specific safety and
security information.
U.S. Consulate General Istanbul http://istanbul.usconsulate.gov
U.S. Consulate Adana http://www.usconadana.org.tr
State Department Consular Affairs (CA)
www.travel.state.hov/turkey.html
Automatic Fax Travel Information 202–647–3000
Turkish Daily News — English-language newspaper
www.TurkishDailyNews.com (Site updated daily except Sunday)
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mfa.gov.tr
State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) Overseas
Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Electronic Bulletin Board
www.ds.state.gov
Türknet Information Services www.turknet.com/index/html
The Republic of Turkey Home Page www.turkey.or/turkey/index.html
Focus on Turkey www.focusmm.com.au/tanamenu.html
Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) Shortwave English Schedules
www.tsr.gov.tr/progoz_en.html
Atlas Geographic Magazine www.atlasturkey.com
Turkish Cultural Geographical and Historical Information
www.asiaminor.com
Local Holidays Last Updated: 10/1/2003 3:43 PM
Turkey observes both civil and religious holidays. Although dates
for civil holidays are determined by the same calendar used in the
U.S., religious holidays are set by the Muslim/Lunar calendar,
resulting in observance on different days each year. Offices of the
Government of Turkey are closed on all these days, and often also a
day or two before or after the actual holiday.
The Turkish holidays are:
New Year’s Day
January 1 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Milli
Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayrami)
April 23 Atatürk Memorial Youth and Sports Day (Atatürk'ü Anma
Gençlik ve Spor Bayrami)
May 19 Victory Day (Zafer Bayrami)
August 30 Anniversary of the Founding of the Turkish Republic
(Cumhuriyet Bayrami)
October 29 Sugar Holiday (Seker Bayrami)
Varies Feast of Sacrifice (Kurban Bayrami)
Varies |