According to petwithsupplies, Turkey is a large country with a population of over 80 million people spread across numerous cities, towns, and villages. The largest cities in Turkey are Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Adana, Gaziantep, Konya, Antalya, and Diyarbakir. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey by far and is located on the Bosporus strait which separates Europe and Asia. It has a population of around 15 million people and is the financial and cultural center of the country. It has a long history stretching back to its founding as Byzantium by Constantine I in 330 CE. Istanbul is home to many famous landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia museum and Blue Mosque as well as numerous shopping districts. Ankara is the capital of Turkey and has a population of around 5 million people. It was founded as Angora by Hittites in 1200 BCE but was later renamed after being conquered by Romans. Ankara is home to many important government buildings including the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) which serves as the legislative body for the country. Additionally, it houses numerous universities such as Middle East Technical University (METU) which attracts students from all over Turkey. Izmir is another major city in Turkey located on the Aegean Sea coast with a population of around 4 million people. It was founded by Greeks in 1000 BCE but was later conquered by Ottomans who made it an important port city for trading goods between Europe and Asia Minor. Today it serves as an important industrial center for textiles and other manufacturing industries while also being known for its beautiful coastline featuring many beaches that attract tourists from all over the world each year. Bursa is located near Istanbul on the Marmara Sea coast with a population of around 3 million people making it one of the most populated cities in Turkey after Istanbul and Ankara. It was founded by Ottomans who made it their capital between 1326-1402 CE due to its strategic location near both Europe and Asia Minor which allowed them to control trade routes between these two regions at this time period. Today Bursa serves an important economic hub for textiles production while also being known for its hot springs that attract visitors from all over Turkey each year. Adana is located near Syria on the Mediterranean Sea coast with a population of around 2 million people making it one of largest cities in southern Turkey. It was founded by the Hittites in 2000 BCE and has been an important port city for centuries due to its strategic location near the Mediterranean Sea. Adana is home to many important historical sites such as the ancient city of Anavarza which served as a major commercial center in the Roman era. Additionally, it is known for its cuisine with dishes such as kebabs, lahmacun and pide being popular among locals and tourists alike. In 2008, Turkey was a country in transition. After decades of military rule, the country had recently shifted to a more democratic form of government, and was beginning to open up to foreign investment. The economy had also been liberalized in recent years, with the privatization of state-owned enterprises and the liberalization of trade and capital flows. This had resulted in an increase in economic growth, but also brought with it rising inequality between the rich and poor. The geopolitics of Turkey in 2008 were complex and multifaceted. Turkey was a member of NATO and the European Union, but had yet to be accepted into the latter due to concerns over its human rights record and other issues. It was also heavily involved in regional conflicts such as those involving Cyprus, Armenia, Iraq and Syria; while at the same time attempting to maintain good relations with its neighbours such as Iran, Russia and Georgia. Turkey’s relations with its neighbours were often strained due to some countries’ support for Kurdish separatists in its south-east region; while at the same time it maintained good relations with many countries including Israel (which it had strong economic ties with) and Egypt (which it sought closer ties with). On top of this were tensions between Turkey’s secularists (who wanted a more secular state) and those who wanted a more Islamic state – tensions which sometimes erupted into violence on both sides. At home, political stability remained fragile due to ongoing debates over reforms needed for full EU accession; while outside its borders there were fears that instability in Iraq would spill over into Turkey – which could have destabilized not just Turkey but much of the Middle East region too. Overall, then, 2008 was a year when Turkish geopolitics was undergoing significant changes – changes which would have far-reaching implications not just for Turkey itself but for much of the wider region too. Check pharmacylib for Turkey in 1996.