Türkiye Cumhuriyeti

Note: On October 10, 2009, Turkey and Armenia signed a historic accord establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries for the first time. The accord, which must be ratified by the parliaments of both countries, also calls for reopening the Turkish-Armenian border, which has been closed since 1993, and paves the way for resolution of a century-old dispute regarding the deaths of many Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman Empire.

Political Status: Independent republic established in 1923; parliamentary democracy since 1946, save for military interregna from May 1960 to October 1961 and September 1980 to November 1983; present constitution approved by referendum of November 7, 1982.

Area: 300,948 sq. mi. (779,452 sq. km.).

Population: 67,803,927 (2000C); 74,827,000 (2008E).

Major Urban Centers (2007E): ANKARA (3,641,931), ...