been a secular westernized country which has friendly alliances with the world nations

more antiquities than Italy and Greece combined and been a country with thousands of historical sites including the remnants from Greek and Roman civilizations

been in the membership process of the European Union

abolished the capital punishment in 2002

been the first major stronghold of Christianity where St. Paul made his first missionary trips as well as being the site of the Seven Churches of Christianity (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea).

Ephesus where Virgin Mary spent the last days of her life

been the country where legendary Trojan War took place

been the country where Alexander the Great initiated his military campaign

been the site of two of the Seven Wonders of the World (Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus).

Istanbul, which has been designated as the European Capital of Culture for 2010 by the Council of European Union

two biblical rivers like Tigris and Euphrates

Mt. Ararat on which Noah's Ark has nested as mentioned on the Old Testament

the site of Gordion where legendary King Midas lived

Patara where Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) was born

been the area where many location names such as Philadelphia, Paris, Troy and Europe were originated.

been the site where the coins of electrum were used by the Lydians in 640 BC for the first time in history.

been the site where earliest nature philosophers emerged.

been the birth place of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, who was the world's first historian.

been the site where Julius Caesar pronounced the words: "I came, I saw and I conquered"