Ambassador hails Kuwait ties as Turkey celebrates National Day

We don’t see Kuwaitis as tourists -

we see them as neighbors

By Ben Garcia

Kuwait Times: What is the plan of activities onNational Day?MURAT TAMER: The Republic of Turkey wasfounded on October 29, 1923. This will be the94th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. We havebeen celebrating since that day, and even in ourmissions abroad, we make sure we celebrate theevent elaborately and with lots of respect to ournational flag. In our missions abroad, we have var-ious activities to demonstrate our culture and tra-ditions. Traditionally, our reception is always heldin our embassy compound. As during any othernational days, it is a very colorful celebration. Wewill be welcoming our counterparts from theministry of foreign affairs of Kuwait. We also inviteother friendly countries to celebrate with us. Weinvite local government officials, the businesscommunity and members of the Turkish commu-nity living side-by-side with Kuwaitis. At theevent, we showcase our culture and we see to itthat we serve our sumptuous cuisine. In Kuwait,we have noticed a boom in Turkish restaurants.These eateries have promised to bring samples oftheir recipes and we will share it with our visitors.Turkish children will present a cultural show onthis day. The Turkish population in Kuwait isaround 4,000-5,000. We have people in business,teachers, engineers, doctors, technicians,mechanics and other professionals here inKuwait. Several Turkish women are married toKuwaitis.

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Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was aTurkish army officer, revolutionary,and founder of the Republic ofTurkey, serving as its first Presidentfrom 1923 until his death in 1938.

• Born: May 19, 1881, Thessaloniki

• Died: November 10, 1938,Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul,Turkey

Recep Tayyip ErdoganMost powerful president since Ataturk

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the current Presidentof Turkey, and he has held the position since2014. He previously served as Prime

Minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014 and as Mayorof Istanbul from 1994 to 1998. Born: February 26,1954 (age 63), Kasimpaga, Beyoglu, Turkey. Itwould not be an exaggeration to say that RecepTayyip Erdogan is currently one of the most charis-matic leaders in the world. Any talk about Turkeyalways includes a reference to Erdogan - this is thegrowing community of personality - and in acountry that honors great leaders, Mustafa KemalAtaturk, it is not surprising either.

Turkey’s 61-year-old president has pushedTurkey forward economically and politically tosome extent, cutting military power into politics.It is not redundant to say that the army had a lotof power in Turkish politics. Erdogan is a polariz-ing figure. For many, especially in the more con-servative regions of Anatolia, it has brought bet-ter health care, given the increased representa-tion of secular Turks and improvements in infra-structure.

Murat Tamer, Ambassador of Turkey to Kuwait

02

Turkey is a nation straddling eastern Europe and western Asia with cultural connections toancient Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Cosmopolitan Istanbul, on theBosphorus Strait, is home to the iconic Hagia Sophia, with its soaring dome and Christian

mosaics, the massive 17th-century Blue Mosque and the circa-1460 Topkapi Palace, former home ofsultans. Ankara is Turkey’s modern capital.

The history of Turkey tells of a 10.000 year old civilization. Find out more about histo-rical timeline, prehistoric times, Anatolian civilizations, Roman period, SeljukEmpire, Ottoman Empire and modern Turkish Republic.

At the end of the First World War, the Ottoman Empire, which had entered on the sideof the Germans, was effectively occupied by the Allies. The Ottoman government wasdefeated and the sultanate had lost credibility.

Mustafa Kemal a popular young Generalin the Ottoman army, who had remainedundefeated throughout the war, emergedas the leader to take Turkey forward into anew era.

During the War of Independencewhich lasted from 1919-1923, MustafaKemal was elected President of theTurkish Grand National Assembly whichwas inaugurated on April 23rd 1920. Hesuccessfully negotiated the LausannePeace Treaty which set Turkey's nationalborders and recognized Turkey's right ofsovereignty. The Turkish Republic wasproclaimed on October 29th 1923.

TURKISH CONSTITUTIONAccording to the Constitution, Turkey is

a republic, and at the same time it is ademocratic, secular and social state gover-ned by the rule of law respecting humanrights and committed to Ataturk's princip-les and nationalism.

Secularism is the important principlethat the basic social, economic, politicaland legal order of the state may not rely,even partially, on religious rules.

The Constitution of the Republic ofTurkey guarantees the rights of Turkishcitizens to lead dignified lives and developtheir material and spiritual being.Everyone is equal before the law and theconstitution does not allow any discrimi-nation based on language, religion, deno-mination, race, skin colour, gender, politi-cal opinion, or philosophical beliefs.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Turkey's Great History

General information on facts aboutTurkey, population, national anthem,founder, system of goverment, head ofgoverment, language, currency, capital

city, religion, area, coastal length, coastal borders,and more.

Official Name: Republic of TurkeyNational Anthem: Istiklal Marsi (IndependenceMarch)Founder: Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

System of Goverment: RepublicanParliamentary DemocracyPrime Minister: Binali YildirimPresident: Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Area: 783.562 square kilometresCoastal Length: 7.200 kmCoastal Borders: Mediterranean Sea at south,Aegean Sea at west, Black Sea at northPopulation: 79.51 million (2016)Capital City: AnkaraLanguage: TurkishReligion: Muslim 99%Neighboring Countries: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria,Greece, Georgia, Iraq, Armenia, Iran, SyriaCurrency: Turkish Lira (TL) 1TL = 100 krNumber of Cities: 81Victory Day: 30 AugustRebuplic Day: 29 OctoberLargest Cities: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana,

Antalya, Konya, Bursa, Kayseri, Samsun, Trabzon,Erzurum, Eskisehir, Kocaeli, Diyarbakir, Sakarya,Mersin, GaziantepHospitality: Hospitality is a cornerstone ofTurkish culture, and Turks believe that visitorsshould be treated as Guests sent by God.Cuisine: Turkish cuisine is renowned as one ofthe world's best.Weather: It is said that all of the four seasonsexist in Turkey.Tourism: Turkey has so much to offer her visitors,therefore this country has recently become oneof the world's most popular tourism destinations.

Marmaris is a Mediterranean resort town along the Turkish Riviera (also known as theTurquoise Coast) with a busy, pebbly beach and long seafront promenade. It’s known forits lively nightlife on Bar Street, which is home to open-air clubs and music venues.Marmaris sits in a valley between pine-forested mountains and clear waters, which arepopular sailing and diving destinations.

Welcome to Antalya,the paradise on earth,the pearl city of theMediterranean, andthe Turkish Riviera.

Within the wide boundaries ofAntalya there is history, natural

beauty and a rich variety of locallife style to be discovered. As

the fourth most visited city inthe world, Antalya is one ofthe world's foremost tourismdestinations, offers you apeerless experience.

Antalya is a typicalMediterranean city, whichcombines ancient citieswhispering tales of histo-ry, myth and legend,emerald green forestsand the sparkling watersof the Mediterranean.Antalya is the largest cityon Turkey's Mediterranean

coastline, classically beauti-ful and stylishly modern.

This great city is full of placesto go and world famous sea-

side towns to stay for local andinternational tourists.

Antalya offers plenty of thingsto see for everyone. In Antalya,

everywhere you turn there is goingto be something bright and shiny that

grabs your attention. See Antalya's must-dos to check off your list when planning a

trip to city. Visit Antalya, the main city of theMediterranean to see its charming old town,

Kaleici, or play a round of golf at one of the superbcourses at nearby Belek.

Welcome to Antalya

Turkish Historical TimelineTurkish historical timeline; a Neolithic city is

established at Catalhoyuk in central Anatolia,the world's first known settlement date backto 6500 BC. The Republic of Turkey was foun-ded in 1923. This history timeline has beendeveloped to provide a snapshot of the famo-us people and events during this historicaltime period of Turkey. Important dates in afast, comprehensive, chronological, or dateorder providing an actual sequence of impor-tant past events which were of considerablesignificance to the famous people involved inthis time period.

23000 BC: A cave at Karain, north of Antalya, isinhabited by humans, the oldest known evi-dence of habitation in Anatolia.

6500 BC: A Neolithic city is established atCatalhoyuk in central Anatolia, the world's firstknown settlement.

5000 BC: Stone and Copper Age. People havealready been living in Anatolia for 20,000 years.

2600 BC - 1900 BC: The Proto-Hittite Empireflourishes in Central Anatolia and theSoutheast.

1900 BC - 1300 BC: The Hittite Empire flouris-hes, battles Egypt. Patriarch Abraham, who hasbeen dwelling in Harran, near Sanliurfa.

1300 BC - 1260 BC: The Trojan Wars describedby Homer in the Iliad.

900 BC - 800 BC: Rise of Phrygian, Lydian andCarian cultures.

725 BC: King Midas rules the Phrygians fromhis capital of Gordion.

561 BC - 546 BC: Croesus rules the Lydians untilhis defeat by the Persian Empire.

353 BC: The death of Mausolus, ruler of theHectamonid clan, who built his famous tombat Halicarnassus.

334 BC: Alexander the Great crosses theDardanelles from Macedonia and sweepsacross Asia Minor.

279 BC: Celts invade and establish the king-dom of Galatia near Ankara.

250 BC: Rise of the Kingdom of Pergamum

(Bergama) as an Anatolian power.

129 BC: Anatolia becomes the RomanProvince of Asia, with its capital at Ephesus.

64 BC - 38 BC: Antiochus I rules theCommagene Kingdom and builds a temple asa monument to himself at the summit ofMount Nemrut.

56 AD: St.Paul stays in the city of Ephesus andwrites his famous Epistles.

330 AD: Constantine chooses the minor townof Byzantium as the capital of the Holy RomanEmpire, rebuilding it in the image of Rome andrenaming it Constantinople.

537 AD: Inauguration of Hagia Sophia churchin Istanbul by the Emperor Justinian.

570 AD - 622 AD: Birth of Muhammed.Revelation of the Kur'an. Muhammed's hejirafrom Mecca to Medina.

1037 - 1109: Turkish Empire of the GreatSeljuks in Iran.

1071 - 1243: Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, an offs-hoot of the Great Seljuk empire, established inAnatolia with its capital in Konya. Mystic poetand philosopher Jelaleddin Rumi, calledMevlana, takes up residence in Konya, writeshis great works, and inspires the founding ofthe Whirling Dervish Sufi order.

1299: The Ottoman state is formed by OsmanBey from whom it takes its Turkish nameOsmanli.

1453: Fatih Sultan Mehmet conquers Istanbul,bringing the Byzantine age to an end, andrenames it Istanbul.

1520 - 1566: Reign of Sultan Suleyman theMagnificent, the great age of the OttomanEmpire. The sultan rules most of North Africa,most of Eastern Europe and all of the MiddleEast.

1571: Ottomans conquer Cyprus.

1914: Ottoman Empire enters the First WorldWar on the side of the Germans.

1923: Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founds theRepublic of Turkey.

FACTS ABOUT TURKEY

03

The Kuwait Support Terminal, recently renamedTerminal 4, is projected as a solution for theincreasing traffic that the existing Terminal 1 ishandling, which has reached more than 11 mil-lion passengers a year.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) of Kuwait with the determination andthe plan to solve the terminal capacity problem,awarded the design/build contract for KuwaitSupport terminal to CENGIZ, one of the majorTurkish contractors, with their local partner FirstKuwaiti and AECOM Spain, the Spanish branchof the US-based architecture and engineeringfirm as their lead designer, to achieve the loftygoal of improving Kuwait’s aviation infrastruc-ture through this facility.

The T4 Terminal at Kuwait InternationalAirport is a multifaceted project with a complexdesign/build scope. In addition to the T4 termi-nal building, other infrastructure included in theproject are the new staff car park with 650 addi-tional spaces, a new pedestrian bridge connec-tion between the existing car park and the

satellite building, six ancillary facilities support-ing operations, and the associated access roadsand utilities.

The T4 terminal building is designed to han-dle 4.5 million passengers per year and plannedper IATA 10th Edition “Overdesign” Level ofService (LoS B per 9th Edition) guidelines andDGCA requirements by considering the project-ed annual and peak-hour forecasts, terminaloperations, security requirements, apron config-uration and type of aircraft.

This resulted in the need for a 55,000 m2 ter-minal building, with 14 gates, divided in twomain levels, five of them in the ground floorserved by buses and nine in the departures lev-el served by passenger boarding bridges.Departure level gates consist of two closedgates (one code C and one code E), one opencode E gate and three open gates with multipleaircraft receiving stand (MARS) parking posi-tions that allow for either two code C, or onecode E type aircraft at each providing the gateallocation and operation flexibility based on

Kuwait Airways fleet expansion strategy.The T4 terminal building design is based on

achieving volume simplicity through the archi-tectural quality of the construction, solutionsand materials, attention to detail, and integra-tion into the environment. The design strives toprovide a pleasant and relaxing passengerexperience avoiding overly formal and unjusti-fied solutions.

The construction is a perfect example of howa public structure can encompass elementsfrom the local culture through processes ofintuitive customization work. The main objec-tive of the building is to project a strong andiconic image that enhances the sense of arrival,welcoming everyone to Kuwait. In addition, thetessellations and geometry of Al Sadu weav-ings, a traditional Kuwaiti pattern, were incor-porated into several design features such asexterior façade panels, custom interior ceilingand custom wood wall panels to define the dis-tinct local image, celebrating the beauty ofKuwait’s traditions.

The terminal has three main levels which aredifferent in use and form: ground floor, arrivalscorridor and departures level. On the groundfloor, arrivals and departures are located sym-metrically, reducing the complexity of the build-ing. Access to the terminal is situated in the cen-tre of the building arriving in the main hall fromthe satellite building via the enclosed pedestri-an bridge providing a conditioned connectionto the car park.

The terminal is designed with a clear anddirect passenger circulation system, minimizingturns and decision points and travel distances,always avoiding cross-flows and conflicting pas-senger movements.

The arrivals corridor is on the middle leveland collects all disembarking passengers anddirects them to the ground floor. This corridor isvisually connected to the bus gates area, and islight, transparent and bright. Passengers transi-tion from the arrivals corridor to the baggageclaim or connecting flights through the corre-sponding security control.

Departure halls are where passengers can

finally rest and take in their surrounds, observ-ing planes or arriving passengers’ movementsthrough the glazed façade. For this reason, theareas are designed as quiet spaces with doubleheight ceilings reflecting a harmonious relation-ship between the building and its setting.

The true challenge for the team has been toconvert the fast track process into a ‘fast smart’project, optimizing construction activities, solv-ing complex problems, developing innovativeand flexible solutions, and at the same timedelivering a state-of-the-art design.

There is no doubt that a complex airportdesign and construction project is not a simpletask to complete, much less with an extremelylimited schedule; however, the Kuwait T4Terminal project demonstrates that it is achiev-able. Thanks to the leadership and continuoussupport of

• Her Excellency Mrs. Hind Sabeeh Barak Al-Sabeeh, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor andMinister of State for Economic Affairs,

• His Excellency Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah, President of TheDirectorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ofKuwait,

• His Excellency Engineer Yousef Sulaiman AlFouzan, Director General of DGCA,

• His Excellency Engineer Emad Faleh AlJuluwi, Deputy Director General for PlanningAffairs and Projects of DGCA, and the entire on-site Project team of DGCA, the excellent dynam-ic created between DGCA and us, has made thisunique project a reality, awaiting its first passen-gers in Spring of 2018.

Finally, CENGIZ is very proud to be a part ofthis important project and also bringing hisextensive experience and knowledge to Kuwaitfrom the execution of Istanbul Grand Airportwhich is designed for 180 million passengerswith 6 runways and terminal building with 1.3million sqm. as one of the biggest airports ofthe world.

Kuwait InternationalAirport Terminal 4

“FAST-SMART” PROJECT

Turkey, Discover the PotentialMore about TurkeyLearn all about what the weather is like, useful Turkish words and phrases,

general informationHow much information you have about Turkey? Turkey is a land of contrasts

bringing together a mixture of East and West has so much to offer her visitors.1. Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents, Europe and

Asia.2. Catalhoyuk is known as one of the earliest settlements in the Neolithic Age.3. Two of the world's seven wonders are located in Bodrum, Turkey; Temple of

Artemis, Halicarnassus Mausoleum.4. Virgin Mary in Selcuk, is a very popular pilgrimage site for Christians.5. Delicious reputation of the Turkish coffee spread all around Europe in the

17th century.6. The word turquoise comes from Turk, meaning Turkish, and was derived

from the perfect blue of the Mediterranean Sea on the southern Turkish coast.7. The world's greatest mosaic museum is Zeugma and second greatest mosa-

ic museum is Antakya in Turkey.8. The most valuable silk carpet in the world is in the Mevlana Museum in

Turkey.9. Church of St.Peter is widely considered to be one of the earliest Christian

houses of worship.10. Anatolia is the birthplace of many historical figures such as Phrygian King

Midas, Herodotus and St.Paul.11. Yoghurt is one of the healthiest foods in existence and is derived from the

original Turkish Yogurt.12. St.Nicholas was born in Patara and served as the Bishop of Myra on the

Mediterranean coast of Turkey.13. Mugla has the longest coast in Turkey, streching from Bodrum to Fethiye

and beyond.14. According to the Legend of Great Flood told in both the Quran and the

Old Testament, Noah's Ark landed on Mount Agri in eastern Anatolia.15. The seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation; Ephesus,

Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea are all found inTurkey.

16. Tulips were first introduced to Europe by the Ottomans and quickly beca-me all the rage over there.

17. Troy where the Trojan wars recounted in Iliad by Homeros of Smyrna were

fought is situated in a small village Tevfikiye of Canakkale in western Turkey.18. One of the first most accurate world maps were drawn by the well known

Turkish cartographer and navigator Piri Reis in 1513.19. Sanliurfa is known to be the City of the Prophets where Prophet Abraham,

Prophet Job, Prophet Elijah and Prophet Jacob lived.20. Gobeklitepe Temple complex in southeast Turkey, is the oldest ancient

temple built by mankind anywhere in the world.21. Kayseri derives its name from Augustus Caesar, when it was called

Caesaris.22. The first coinage in human history began in Anatolia.23. 300 years ago somebody flew from Galata Tower in Istanbul.24. Turkey is one of the world's largest yacht manufacturers.

Turkey's Weather and Climate ConditionsTurkey has a Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine, mild temperatu-

res and a limited amount of rainfall. It is said that all of the four seasons exist inTurkey.

Spring season (March, April, May) is very well for visiting Turkey to experiencebeautiful nature, local life, mild temperatures and smaller crowds.

Summer season (June, July, August) is the highest season for visiting Turkey toexperience warm summer temperatures, swimming, sun bathing, seaside restau-rants and rich nightlife.

Autumn (September, October, November) is very nice for visiting Turkey toexperience discovering historical sites, comfortable temperatures, local life andunique nature.

Winter season (December, January, February) is one of the best times to visitTurkey, to experience authentic local life, skiing and other winter sports.

Explore Turkey's DestinationsExplore Turkey's most popular holiday destinations and unique Turkish cities.

Find your way around Turkey's regions and get a snapshot of Turkey's beautifulcoastline and spectacular icons. Discover beautiful islands, experience slow tou-rism or visit the cultural treasures. Turkey, with its cosmopolitan cities and quaintvillages is one of the world's most fascinating destinations.

Guide to Turkish CitiesTurkey has 81 main cities for you to explore. From these you can plan your trip

to iconic destinations. Every city has some unique characteristics, attractions andfestivals. Turkey is a country of great diversity, in terms of both culture and eco-nomics. Big Turkish cities usually enjoy a more modern, western style culture anda wide array of economical options.

GaziantepWelcome to Gaziantep, the magical stop of historical Silk Road, the masterly

spirit of Turkey. Gaziantep is the sixth largest Turkish city, one of the oldest settle-ments in Anatolia, located in Southeastern Anatolian region of Turkey. Gaziantep,a city whose roots go back more than ten thousands years, that reflects thepower of Mesopotamia. It is not just history, it is a vibrant gastronomy.

Gaziantep is one of the top destinations in Turkey's southeastern region.Standing at the crossroads of major north-south and east-west routes, Gaziantepis an important settlement. This historic old city is full of places to visit for localand foreign tourists.

There are a number of exciting things to do in Gaziantep. From historical sitesto cultural attractions, explore all unique places to see in the city of Gaziantep.

Some of Touristic PlacesBodrum

Bodrum is a district and a port city in Muğla Province, in the southwesternAegean Region of Turkey. It is located on the southern coast of BodrumPeninsula, at a point that checks the entry into the Gulf of Gökova, and is also thecenter of the eponymous district. The city was called Halicarnassus of Caria inancient times and was famous for housing the Mausoleum of Mausolus, one ofthe Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Built by the Knights Hospitaller in the15th century, Bodrum Castle, overlooks the harbour and the marina. The castlegrounds include a Museum of Underwater Archaeology and hosts several cultu-ral festivals throughout the year.

During the 20th century the country's economy was mainly based on fishingand sponge diving. Over the years, tourism became one of the major activities inBodrum.

Fethiye Fethiye is a port city, and district, on Turkey's southwestern Turquoise Coast.

It's known for its natural harbor, blue waters and numerous rock tombs inclu-ding the 4th-century B.C. Tomb of Amyntas, carved into a bluff overlooking thecity. Near-shore islands are popular for day trips by boat. In the south, thebeach at Ölüdeniz is sheltered by a lagoon, and Butterfly Valley is a designatednature reserve.

Republic Day of TurkeyEstablished 1961

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Welcome to Istanbul, the city ofthe past, the present and thefuture. Istanbul not only joinscontinents, it also joins cul-tures and people. Close your

eyes, imagine yourself in a city. Istanbul is oneof the most visited and important places inthe world, a central hub connecting Asia andEurope, blending the past and the future,bringing together cultures and people from allover the world.

Enjoy city shopping and tourist attractions,experience the colorful daily life and dynamicnightlife, or visit museums, historical and reli-gious sites in Istanbul. Catch a glimpse ofIstanbul's ancient city walls, enchantedchurches, Ottoman palaces and spiritualmosques, savor the delightful flavours of thecity's rich cuisine. Fascinating stories inamazing locations. Come find yours inIstanbul.

For a real shopping experience in Istanbul,visit the historical bazaars, traditional marketsand antique stores, where a myriad of objectswait to be discovered. Istanbul has everythingfor all traditional shopping enthusiasts.

Welcome to Adana

Adana is a major city in southern Turkey. The city issituated on the Seyhan river, 35 km inland from theMediterranean, in south-central Anatolia. It is theadministrative seat of the Adana Province and has apopulation of 1.7 million, making it the fifth most pop-

ulous city in Turkey. Adana is one of the first industrial cities, as well as one of the

economically developed cities in Turkey. The city was medium-sized until the middle of the 19th century, attracting Europeantraders after the United States, a major supplier of cotton, wasinvolved in its civil war. Cukurova farmers first exported agricul-tural products and thus started to build capital.

Welcome to IzmirWelcome to beautiful Izmir, the frontiercity of Turkey. Izmir, with its 8,500 yearsof history, is gloriously situated on thewestern edge of Turkey, the bountiful,the fruitful and the beautiful. Izmir, thecity of olives, figs and grapes, the landof the natural, organic and fresh. Izmiroffers visitors many options for a uniqueholiday experience.

Izmir, known as the pearl of theAegean, lies on the west coast of Turkey,is more than welcoming with its Aegeanambience, blue flag beaches, beautifulnature, lovely villages and world famousancient sites. There are a variety of placesto go, many traditional districts andcoastal towns to discover in Izmirprovince of Turkey.

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Kuşadası

Kuşadası is a beach resort town on Turkey’s westernAegean coast. A jumping-off point for visiting the classicalruins at nearby Ephesus (or Efes), it’s also a major cruise shipdestination. Its seafront promenade, marina, and harbor arelined with hotels and restaurants. Just offshore on PigeonIsland is a walled Byzantine castle that once guarded thetown, connected to the mainland via causeway.

Çeşme Çeşme is a Turkish resort town west of Izmir, on the

Aegean Sea. Overlooking the harbor is Çeşme Castle, a res-tored military fortress. It now houses the ÇeşmeArchaeology Museum, with displays of marble busts, metalcoins and artifacts from nearby excavations. On the eastside of the Çeşme peninsula is sandy Ilica Beach, with warmthermal sulfur springs. Around Çeşme are clear waters andaccessible dive sites.

DidimDidim is a small town, popular seaside holiday resort,

and district of Aydın Province on the Aegean coast of wes-tern Turkey, 123 km (76 mi) from the provincial capital cityof Aydın. Didim is the site of the antique city of Didyma withits ruined Temple of Apollo.

AlanyaAlanya is a resort town on Turkey’s central

Mediterranean coast (also known as the Turkish Riviera). Its

wide beaches lined with hotels include Cleopatra Beach,where the Egyptian queen reputedly swam. Alanya Castle, agiant Seljuk-era fort turned open-air museum, stands on arocky bluff above the beachfront, alongside red-tile-roofedOttoman villas and the octagonal Red Tower, a symbol ofthe city dating to 1226.Also Turkey has been chosen second in the world in 2015with its 436 blue-flagged beaches, according to theChamber of Shipping.

Turkey's Geographical FeaturesTurkey is geographically, politically and officially part of

two continents Europe and Asia. The smaller northwesternportion is part of Europe, while the larger portion is part ofAsia.

Geography of TurkeyTurkey occupies a rectangular shaped peninsula of land

at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa; home tocountless civilizations and a crossing point between thecontinents over several ages.

Lakes and RiversTurkey has large number of lakes; most notable is Lake

Van, the largest natural lake, covering as much area as aninland sea. Dam lakes are also a common site in Turkey. Thecountry's longest river is the Kizilirmak, which flows into theBlack Sea. The Euphrates and Tigris both originate in Turkey,flow through other countries before reaching the PersianGulf.

RegionsTurkey is separated into seven geographical regions,

which are, in order of size: Eastern Anatolia, CentralAnatolia, Black Sea, Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara andSoutheastern Anatolia.

LandscapesTurkey is bordered to the north by the Black Sea, to the

west by the Sea of Marmara and Aegean and to the southby the Mediterranean. Due to its position and the fact thatTurkey is at the meeting point of three different climaticzones, it is home to a tremendous variety of landscapes andplants so being a paradise for travellers and naturalists.

CoastlineYou will find the beaches of Turkey to be some of the

most beautiful in the world. It is along these long shoreswhere you there are so many great beaches to choose from.

Turkish Culture and ArtTurkish culture is unique in the world. Turkey may be the

only country that contains every extreme of Eastern andWestern culture. Highlights some of the distinct characteris-tics and qualities of Turkish culture and art.

Turkey's Musical TraditionTurkey has a rich musical tradition of varied and often

contrasting styles. Turkish music forms great examples ofsuch a mix of cultural influences. From Turkish folk, classicaland pop music to military and mystical sounds.

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Continued from Page 1

On the economy Limak, a Turkish company, won the $4.6-billion proj-

ect of Kuwait International Airport. Because of this,many qualified Turkish workers will be added to theTurkish population here. Construction will continue forsix years, but I am sure it will be completed even beforefive years - maybe even four years. One year is alreadyover, and a temporary terminal building is set to open inMay 2018 so work can begin on the new one. Whencompleted, the new building will accommodate 20-25million passengers per year unlike the temporary one,which can only accommodate 5-6 million passengers.

The terminal will be the most beautiful one in theGulf region. It’s really a big project. Two weeks ago, thecompany poured 5,800 tons of cement in one night -the largest in history. This is true all over Kuwait - Kuwaitis turning into a construction zone. Look at the infra-structure projects all over Kuwait. They are making agreat effort to improve the living standard in Kuwait forthe Kuwaiti people. I am sure all this is not a waste ofmoney. Kuwait will be different when everything is com-pleted.

There are many good things happening in Kuwait.We are glad that a Turkish company won the project. Wethanked them for trusting our company, and luckily, ithappened during my tenure as Turkish ambassador, but

I do not claim the credit, because this is a project of aprivate company from our country. It is a pleasure to seethe granting of this project to one of our companies.Many companies are coming to Kuwait to invest - youcan see the continuous development and infrastructurework going on. Huge hospitals and long bridges arebeing built, and these are part of HH the Amir’s Kuwait2035 vision. Kuwait is doing all it can to achieve its goalto be the new economic hub of the world. Kuwaiti peo-ple deserve the best and every single fils spent is usedproperly to make it better for future generations.

Kuwait Times: Can you tell us about the Turkisheconomy and relations with Kuwait?

TAMER: The proof is there to speak for itself.Politically, we have perfect political relations betweenKuwait and Turkey. Our economic relations howeverneed improvement - statistically, we still have a smallshare; we haven’t reach full potential yet. For a longtime, our balance of trade was only $500-600 million,but in 2016, we reached $1.2 billion, minus the Limakproject. We have cooperation over agricultural and dailyproducts, steel and machinery. Turkey determines theprice of iron and steel because we are the strongest inthis. Kuwaitis have acquired several farms in Turkey toplant vegetables and fruits. One Kuwaiti has a very largefarm in Turkey to raise cattle. He also has poultry anddairy farms.

Kuwait Times: Turkey is the number one tourismdestination for Kuwaitis - can you cite a figure?

TAMER: From 2013, we have been receiving around140,000-150,000 visitors from Kuwait. In 2016, thisreached a benchmark of 200,000, and this is continuing.In fact, if we count Kuwaiti transit passengers, around500,000 Kuwaitis used airports in Istanbul to travel toother countries. We do not see Kuwaitis as tourists - wesee them as neighbors, so probably this is the reasonwhy we have very close ties with this nation. Our cultureis almost similar - we have lots of famous Turkish restau-rants here.

Kuwait Times: What keeps them coming back toTurkey?

TAMER: Not only because we are neighbors, but acombination of many factors. Traditionally, since hun-dreds of years, we have been friends. Leaders of bothcountries have strong bonds of friendship. Our leadershave been visiting each other. Turkey’s leader has calledthe Kuwaiti leader a negotiator and a wise man. Sincethe Ottoman period, they were regarded as negotiators.We have a very good chemistry as people.

Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire - it isa city with a history of 8,500 years. This is where you canget whatever you want in the world, but you cannot getIstanbul outside Turkey. We have everything - ruins ofpast civilizations; even the house of the Virgin Mary is in

Turkey. John the Baptist’s house, the Trojan Horse,Mount Ararat and Noah’s Ark are in Turkey. The rich,ancient history of civilization is in Turkey.

Kuwait Times: What about the field of education?What is the level of cooperation between the twocountries? How many Kuwaiti students are you cur-rently hosting at universities in Turkey?

TAMER: We have a good relationship in this field, butit needs improvement - education is free for all Turkishstudents. Right now, we barely have about 100 studentsfrom Kuwait. So we need more promotion when itcomes to the field of education. We have excellent uni-versities - many of our universities are among the top inthe world.

Kuwait Times: Do you have a military agreementwith Kuwait?

TAMER: We have a good military agreement withKuwait, especially in the field of training and continuousmilitary technology transfer programs. We are sharingour expertise with them as well as arms. We are open toany suggestions militarily and whatever we have in ourweaponry, it is for them to come and learn and choosewhat they want. Remember, we helped Kuwait duringthe Iraqi invasion and stood side-by-side with them.Currently, we are ready to stand in front of them to pro-tect this country.

By Ben Garcia

Afree school - from kindergarten, pri-mary and secondary levels - isbeing operated by the Turkish

Embassy in Kuwait. The school is similar tovarious Turkish schools all over the world,with the primary objective to provideproper and basic education to Turkish stu-dents. Located in the Kuwaiti neighbor-hood of Adan in Mubarak Al-Kabeer gov-ernorate, the school is currently hostingaround 300 Turkish students.

The student population is growingalmost every academic year, so PrincipalTalat Baykus is seeking the Kuwaiti gov-ernment’s assistance for bigger andschool-like environment facilities, as class-es are currently being held in a villa. Theschool started in the comfort of theembassy compound in Dasman in 2006.But as it grew, it needed larger facilities.

‘We need a bigger space as our studentpopulation in Kuwait has continued togrow, especially with the onset of con-struction of Kuwait International Airport.More people from Turkey are expected tojoin the growing number of Turkish work-ers in Kuwait, as a private company fromTurkey won the bid for building the newairport in Kuwait. I have no complaints(about the facility), only the size. The place

is good, but our neighbors are Kuwaitis, sosometimes we face complaints,’ Baykustold Kuwait Times. ‘If we get a bigger placefor our students, it will help us a lot.However, I do not want to impose my willon this - we have the embassy for helpand the Kuwait government to see ourplight. We really thank them for the placeprovided to us for our kids’ education,’ henoted.

The school is managed and run by theTurkish Embassy based on the Turkisheducational system and curricula. ‘Theschool is currently hosting 300 studentswith two classes in KG, five classes of ele-mentary and five classes at the secondarylevel, plus five primary classes. Around 29teachers provide the services needed bystudents. The school was primarily estab-lished to cater to the needs of Turkish peo-ple - from education and culture totourism, sports, arts and information,’Baykus said.

‘We are using the Turkish language asthe medium of instruction, and my mis-sion here is to prepare our students forreintegration classes back in Turkey if theirparents decide to go back home. We aredoing our best here with the help of myco-teachers to provide the best standard-ized education to our students,’ he said.

Free school for all Turkish students

Ambassador hails Kuwait ties as Turkey celebrates National Day

‘An interview with Limak officials on thefuture growth of Kuwait’s economy’

By Faten Omar

The Turkish Embassy in Kuwait is celebrating the country’sNational Day on 29 October. To mark this occasion,Kuwait Times spoke with Limak Construction, the leading

Turkish company in Kuwait that is constructing KuwaitInternational Airport’s new terminal. This Contract is thelargest tender won abroad in a single package by a Turkishcontractor.

Mr. Kayihan Bagdatli, General Manager of Limak InsaatKuwait, extended congratulations to the Republic of Turkeyand the Turkish Embassy in Kuwait on the occasion of the 94thNational Day of the Republic of Turkey. He praised the rela-tionship between Kuwait and Turkey, which has been gettingcloser in recent years.

Mr. Bagdatli pointed out that Turkey enjoys excellent andmultidimensional relations with Kuwait based on commoncultural and historical ties. In recent years “Turkey’s bilateralties with Kuwait have gained momentum through high-levelvisits as well as numerous agreements signed during thosevisits” he said.

Mr. Feyiz Genc, Board Director at Limak, told Kuwait Timesthat Limak Construction, which was established in 1976, hasspecialized in all types of infrastructure and superstructureprojects, including airports, ports, expressways, dams, hydro-electric power plants, treatment plants, factories, Industrialfacilities, food facilities, pipelines, mixed-use complex build-ings, and hotel constructions. The company has combined itstechnical ability and experience over many years, with quality,speed, advanced technology, innovativeness, social responsi-bility and has successfully completed many major projects ofstrategic significance. Many of these followed an EPC modeland were completed prior to the foreseen date.

He added, “We opened a Kuwait Branch office in the mid-dle of 2016. Our plan is to be involved in developing Kuwaitthrough ‘Kuwait 2035’ vision, which includes various megaprojects”.

Mr. Genc noted that the Kuwait Government has nowmade it easy for foreign firms to invest in Kuwait where it haslowered the obstacles for new companies that want to beestablished in Kuwait. “This is the new Kuwait; the platform ischanging. They have introduced new attractive regulations.”Adding “besides working on Kuwait International Airport’sTerminal 2 construction, which will be one of the most mod-ern and technological constructions in the world, Limak is alsoworking on other projects in Kuwait including the “InfectiousDiseases Hospital”.

He explained that Limak has undertaken a Corporate SocialResponsibility programme in Kuwait. For this initiative theCompany has signed a protocol with Kuwait University to trainmore than 40 female engineering students to empower andencourage Kuwait women to work in the construction field.Selected graduates will be given the opportunity to continueto work at Kuwait International Airport Terminal 2 Project, asthey will be invited to apply for internships.

Mr. Genc affirmed that Limak’s support for female under-graduate engineers in Kuwait is part of the Company’s greaterregional efforts to add permanent value to Kuwait’s society bysupporting education and learning opportunities in the fieldsof construction, engineering, architecture and project man-agement.

In this regard, Dr. Amani Bu-Qammaz, Assistant Professor atthe Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineeringand Petroleum at Kuwait University, said “Limak signed anagreement to establish Limak’s ‘Kuwait’s Engineer GirlsProgramme’ in collaboration with Kuwait University andBogazici University. 35 students enrolled in their senior year atKuwait University’s College of Engineering and Petroleumhave joined the training program. The project-based learningprogramme trains these undergraduate seniors over thecourse of the 2017 fall semester. The course consists of 200training hours.”

She added that the programme aims to empower students’leadership and management skills and help them envisiontheir future careers in engineering “It is a strong and long-term advocate of the advancement of women in the engineer-ing and construction sector in the Middle East.”

Dr. Qammaz noted that the Kuwait programme is mod-eled on a successful programme launched by Limak inTurkey in 2015.

Meanwhile, Mr. Richard Meredith, Limak’s Project Directorfor Kuwait International Airport Terminal 2 Project, explained

more about Limak’s projects both in Kuwait and overseas.“Limak Construction, which recently won a number of largetenders abroad, especially in Middle Eastern markets, hasclimbed to 85th place in the ENR rankings of top constructioncompanies” he said.

Mr. Meredith noted that in parallel with construction of theKuwait International Airport Terminal 2 project, Limak also hasseveral other ongoing airport projects. “Istanbul Grand Airportin Turkey, Dakar Blaise-Diagne International Airport project inSenegal and Volgograd and Rostov airports in Russia areamong the many projects currently being undertaken byLimak” he said.

Regarding the Kuwait Airport, Mr. Meredith said that theprocurement process for the 711,000 square metre terminalbuilding is ongoing. “Construction is progressing in all of theelements of the project which include Terminal 2, a 3 km utili-ty tunnel and associated ancillary buildings. We have substan-tially completed earthworks for the project by moving nearly3 million m3 of soil. 25% of the terminal building’s foundationworks have been completed. Work is ongoing day and nightwith over 2,500 direct and indirect manpower. The Terminal 2Building is targetting to achieve LEED Gold Certification.When this is achieved it will become the 1st Terminal Buildingwith this accreditation. Terminal 2 is supposed to open official-ly in 2022, however, Limak is working hard with theGovernment to accomplish it sooner”.

He added “We have employed the best staff, designers and

subcontractors from across the globe for Terminal 2 Project toconstruct this iconic building, which will become an unforget-table hub for air passengers from around the world. The entiredesign has been carried out in 3D and Building InformationModel (BIM) coordinating the designs of the various disci-plines and helping the construction progress swiftly withhighest quality and standards. “

Regarding state-of-the-art technology, Terminal 2 willinstall the latest baggage handling system, which can trackbags from check-in to the flight, reducing the chances ofmisdirected baggage to zero. The passenger bags will bescreened using latest Level 3 machines, ensuring the highestlevel of safety and security of not only the passengers butalso airport staff. Terminal 2 has a roof area of 310,000 m2;the majority of this roof will be fitted with photovoltaic pan-els to generate renewable energy. The roof will also incorpo-rate nearly 8,000 skylights, which will make use of naturallight during day time thus reducing the overall power con-sumption.

Mr. Meredith added “Limak like challenging projects likeKuwait International Airport Terminal 2. We are also workingon Istanbul Grand Airport. This is a complete international air-port under construction in the Arnavutkoy district on theEuropean side of Istanbul, Turkey. The airport is planned as thelargest airport in the world and is being constructed in arecord time.”

Republic Day of TurkeyEstablished 1961

Special Supplement

07Turkey aims to

support Kuwait

develop its 2035 vision