]

International organization participation: AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE,
CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, OECD,
OIC, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Baki ILKIN
chancery: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 659-8200
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark PARRIS
embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara
mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
telephone: [90] (312) 468-6110
FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019
consulate(s) general: Istanbul
consulate(s): Adana

Flag description: red with a vertical white crescent (the closed
portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered
just outside the crescent opening

@Turkey:Economy

Economy-overview: Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern
industry and commerce along with traditional village agriculture and
crafts. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the
state still plays a major role in basic industry, banking, transport,
and communication. Its most important industry-and the largest source
of exports-is textiles and clothing, which is almost entirely in
private hands. The current economic situation is marked by strong
growth coupled with serious imbalances. Real GDP expanded by about 7%
in 1997 but inflation rose to 99% at yearend, and the public sector
fiscal deficit probably remained near 10% of GDP. To some extent,
Ankara is caught in a vicious fiscal circle because about half of all
central government revenue is going to pay interest on the national
debt. The government that took office in July 1997-headed by Prime
Minister YILMAZ's Motherland Party-enacted a 1998 budget that includes
substantial tax increases and cuts in non-interest spending but these
gains will be offset by a jump in interest payments. The government
also is planning to overhaul the social welfare and tax systems and to
speed up privatization, although these reforms will face tough
political opposition. Ankara is trying to increase trade with other
countries in the region but