Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/tvltxt/TURKEY.TVL

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Turkey - Consular Information Sheet
September 9, 1994

Country Description:  Turkey is a moderately developed  nation with
extensive tourist facilities of all classes in the main tourist destinations.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and visa are required.  Beginning October 1,
1994, business and tourist visas will cost $20.  Visas may be obtained prior
to travel from a Turkish Embassy or Consulate or at the port of entry.  For
further information, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Republic of
Turkey at 1714 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, tel: (202)
659-8200, or the nearest Turkish Consulate in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
or New York.

Areas of Instability:  For at least ten years, urban and rural acts of
terrorism throughout Turkey have caused injury and loss of life to
government officials and civilians, including some foreign tourists.  While
most incidents have occurred in Eastern Turkey, in 1993, one terrorist
group, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) began to target tourist sites and
tourist-oriented facilities in western Turkey in an effort to inflict
economic harm on Turkey by discouraging tourism.  Such attacks continued
into 1994.  During the summer of 1993, a series of bomb attacks in Antalya
wounded 26 persons, including some tourists; in Istanbul, a grenade was
thrown under a tour bus injuring eight persons, and a bomb was thrown at a
group of tourists as they were sightseeing around the city walls, resulting
in six injuries; a hand grenade was found buried on a beach southeast of
Izmir, and there were reports of similar incidents in other areas along the
west coast.  In 1994, PKK bomb attacks at some of Istanbul's most popular
tourist attractions, including St. Sophia and the Covered Bazaar, resulted
in the death of two foreign tourists.  No group has claimed responsibility
for three bomb attacks that wounded 23 persons in the Mediterranean resorts
of Marmaris and Fethiye.

Intermittent terrorist bombings, not directed against tourists, have also
occurred elsewhere, including Ankara, causing damage to property and loss of
life.  Due to PKK bombings on local intercity buses, travelers may be
subject to security baggage screening by the Turkish National Police.  Some
terrorist groups have also targeted the personnel and property of
organizations with official and commercial ties to the United States.  The
U.S. Embassy in Ankara has advised all Americans to be aware of their
surroundings and report suspicious incidents to local authorities.

Eastern Provinces:  With the exception of the Mediterranean and Black Sea
coasts, travel to eastern Turkey is hazardous.  Terrorist acts by the PKK
continue throughout the eastern provinces.  These attacks are not only
against Turkish police and military installations but also against civilian
targets including public ground transportation.  While most attacks have
been at night, day-time attacks are increasingly frequent.  Over the past
nine years, several thousand Turkish civilians and security personnel have
been killed in terrorist attacks.  In 1991, the PKK began kidnapping
foreigners in eastern Turkey to generate media attention for their
separatist cause.  Over the past two years, a number of foreigners,
including Americans, have been held by the PKK and eventually released.  As
recently as October 9, 1993, an American tourist was abducted by the PKK
while traveling by bus on the main highway between Erzurum and Erzincan.
Due to the tense security situation, the climbing of Mt. Ararat in eastern
Turkey is extremely dangerous, even with the required Turkish government
permits.  In light of the dangerous security conditions for travelers in
eastern Turkey, the U.S. military has advised its personnel to avoid all
tourist travel to this region.  U.S. Embassy and consulate personnel travel
to eastern Turkey only for essential U.S. Government business and only with
prior approval.  In instances where travel to cities in eastern Turkey is
essential, air travel is considered safer than other forms of public
transportation.

Medical Information:  Medical facilities are available, but may be limited
outside urban areas.  Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash
payment for health services.  The reported number of cases of cholera and
other water-borne diseases in the metropolitan Istanbul area is less this
year than in the past.  In the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, there are
recurring outbreaks of dysentery, typhoid fever, meningitis and other
contagious diseases.  U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the
United States.  Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental
medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved to be useful.
Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for
Disease Control's International Travelers' hotline, tel: [phone].

Crime Information:  There is some crime against tourists, including
pickpocketing, purse snatching and mugging.  In Istanbul, incidents have
been reported of tourists who have been drugged and robbed in nightclubs and
bars, usually by other foreigners who speak English and French.  The loss or
theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local
police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate.  The Department of State's
pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" is available from the Superintendent of
Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.  It
provides useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal
security while traveling abroad.

Public Safety:  Travel by road after dark is hazardous throughout Turkey.
Road and driving conditions off the main highways and in remote areas are
particularly dangerous.  In the eastern provinces, the incidence of
terrorism poses additional risks for road travelers.  Turkish authorities
expect travelers to cooperate with travel restrictions and other security
measures imposed in the east.

Dual Nationality:  U.S. citizens who are also considered to be Turkish
citizens may be subject to compulsory military service and other aspects of
Turkish law while in Turkey.  Those who may be affected can inquire at a
Turkish Embassy or Consulate to determine status.  In some instances, dual
nationality may hamper U.S. government efforts to provide protection abroad.

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in
which they are traveling.  In Turkey, the penalties for possession, use, and
dealing in illegal drugs are extremely strict, and convicted offenders can
expect jail sentences and fines.

Other Pertinent Information:  Unauthorized purchase of or removal from
Turkey of antiquities or other important cultural artifacts is strictly
forbidden.  Violation of this law may result in imprisonment.  At the time
of departure, travelers who purchase such items may be asked to present a
receipt from the seller as well as the official museum export certificate
required by law.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who register at the Consular Section of the
U.S. Embassy or Consulate may obtain updated information on travel and
security in Turkey.

Embassy and Consulate Locations:

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara is located at 110 Ataturk Boulevard, telephone
(90)[phone].

The U.S. Consulate in Istanbul is located at 104-108 Mesrutiyet Caddesi,
Tepebasl, tel: [phone].

The U.S. Consulate in Adana is located at the corner of Vali Yolu and
Ataturk Caddesi, tel: [phone].

There is a Consular Agent in Izmir at the Turkish American Association,
Sehit Nevres Boulevard, No. 23, Alsancak, telephone [phone], -3644.

No. 94-217

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated May 25, 1994, to add
information on visa requirements and on cholera.