Last December, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a declaration announcing the country’s decision to change its name globally. He stated his willingness to replace “Turkey” with “Turkiye.” On December 4th, 2021, this declaration was formally published in the Official Gazette. However, there was no precise information on this reform implementation. Yet UNO recently stated new updates regarding the topic.
UN Agrees To Change The Country’s Name Officially To “Türkiye.”
Following a request from Ankara, the United Nations has changed the name of the Republic of Turkey’s country within the organization from “Turkey” to “Türkiye.”
According to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu sent a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2022, requesting the use of “Türkiye” instead of “Turkey” in all matters.
According to Stephane Dujarric, the country’s name change took effect as soon as they received the letter. Moreover, Çavuşoğlu stated that the letter had been officially submitted to the UN and other international organizations on Tuesday.
“Türkiye” Vs. “Turkey“?
The Turkish president claims that the word “Turkiye” suits the Turkish culture and heritage better. The decision aims to use the Turkish name of the country as a distinct brand globally.
Furthermore, the word “turkey” is very ambiguous in common North American English. It also describes someone foolish. In this context, the Turkish government expressed its opposition to using a negative Word as the country’s name.
“Turkiye” will appear in all foreign correspondence and activities worldwide. However, the government previously negotiated with the United Nations over the letter “Ü,” which does not exist in other Latin scripts. Aside from that, they figured out how to replace the name on a global scale.
However, the government has already begun using the new name inside the country. On its official website, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was renamed “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Turkiye” on its official website.
What Attitudes Does “Türkiye” Carry?
This move hasn’t generated an international response yet. Local reactions, on the other hand, are varied and opposite. Some individuals applaud the government’s action. They think it’s a good idea to promote Turkish culture and origins. They also regard it as a courageous move to improve the country’s global recognition. Others believe it is preferable to eliminate any potential mistake with the bird’s name or any other English term. They admit that any dependent country doesn’t have to follow a foreign language rule when selecting a title that symbolizes its uniqueness.
On the other hand, some opponents saw it as a worthwhile diversion from the state’s real problems.
Where Does Turkey Stand In The World?
Turkey’s importance originates from its geographical location, situated between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Turkey is also a modern Muslim country that acts as a cultural bridge between Western and Islamic cultures. Moreover, it is an important factor in energy distribution from the Middle East to Europe. Turkey is a prominent player in the region, serving as a leader, mediator, and promoter for bettering Islamic and Western foreign policies.
Turkey, after all, is a country that is fast modernizing, urbanizing, and pursuing global economic and cultural integration. Turkey’s rising technological and entrepreneurial openness to the rest of the world makes it a viable market and a source of economic strength.
In the current period, Turkey plays an important strategic role. It occupies a pivotal position in the region, with strong relations with its neighbors, including Israel, Russia, and Arab nations. Since 1952, the country has belonged to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The strategic importance of Turkey is determined by geopolitical, economic, and political factors.
Turkey is also the only Islamic country that is meanwhile secular and democratic. In light of both transition and rising potential, Turkey is gaining legitimacy and relevance as an economic, military, and political entity, providing an alternative paradigm for the Islamic world.
