Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 03ANKARA4548, 2003 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT FOR TURKEY -

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #03ANKARA4548.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
03ANKARA4548 2003-07-21 08:25 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Ankara
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 004548 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA 
TREASURY FOR OASIA 
DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR 
FAS FOR ITP/THORBURN 
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/DDEFALCO 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EINV KTDB EFIN TU
SUBJECT:  2003 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT FOR TURKEY - 
PART II 
 
Ref: STATE 128494 
 
 
The following is the second of four cables transmitting the 
2003 Investment Climate Statement for Turkey: 
 
 
5.  PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS/INCENTIVES 
 
 
Turkey is a party to the WTO Agreement on Trade Related 
Investment Measures (TRIMS). 
 
 
Turkey provides investment incentives to both domestic and 
foreign investors, though these were scaled back in 2003. 
These include a corporate tax exemption of 40 percent of 
specified investment expenses deductible from future taxable 
profits for investments greater than 5 billion TL 
(approximately USD 3,600).  Certain other incentives may 
require an incentive certificate from the Turkish Treasury 
Undersecretariat.  Investment incentives are defined in a 
May 2003 Finance Ministry decree.  For more information on 
the Turkish incentive system, please visit: 
www.investinturkey.gov.tr/incentives.htm). 
 
 
There are no performance requirements imposed as a condition 
for establishing, maintaining, or expanding an investment. 
There are no requirements that investors purchase from local 
sources or export a certain percentage of output.  However, 
domestic or foreign investors who commit to realizing USD 
10,000 of exports upon completion of the investment may be 
exempt from certain fees and taxes, such as those related to 
land registration or company establishment.  Investors' 
access to foreign exchange has no relation to exports. 
 
 
There are no requirements that nationals own shares in 
foreign investments, that the shares of foreign equity be 
reduced over time, or that the investor transfer technology 
on certain terms.  There are no government imposed 
conditions on permission to invest, including location in 
specific geographical areas, specific percentage of local 
content - for goods or services - or local equity, import 
substitution, export requirements or targets, employment of 
host country nationals, technology transfer, or local 
financing. 
 
 
The GOT does not request that investors disclose proprietary 
information, other than publicly available information, as 
part of the regulatory approval process.  Enterprises with 
foreign capital must send their activity report, submitted 
to the general assembly of shareholders, auditor's report, 
and balance sheets to the Treasury's Foreign Investment 
Directorate every year by May. 
 
 
With the exceptions noted under Section 1 "Openness to 
Foreign Investment" and Section 8 "Transparency of the 
Regulatory System", Turkey grants all rights, incentives, 
exemptions and privileges available to national capital and 
business to foreign capital and business, on a MFN basis. 
American and other foreign firms can participate in 
government-financed and/or subsidized research and 
development programs on a national treatment basis. 
 
 
Visa, residence, or work permit requirements have not 
generally inhibited foreign investors.  Expatriates may be 
assigned as managers or technical staff.  We are aware of 
one case in the tourism sector in which denial of a 
residence permit has hindered operations for a foreign 
investor.  A 2003 law (no. 4817) on work authorizations for 
foreign nationals should give the Ministry of Labor and 
Social Security more authority over work permits. 
Implementing regulations are to be issued later this year. 
 
 
Outside of the agricultural sector, Turkey generally has a 
liberal foreign trade regime.  There are no discriminatory 
or preferential export or import policies directly affecting 
foreign investors.  Turkey harmonized its export incentive 
regime with the European Union in 1995, prior to the start 
of the Customs Union.  Turkey currently offers a number of 
export incentives, including credits through the Turkish 
Eximbank, energy incentives, and research and development 
incentives.  Cash incentives for exporters have been 
eliminated.  Foreign investors can participate in these 
export incentive programs on a national treatment basis. 
More information on Turkey's trade regime can be found at 
www.foreigntrade.gov.tr. 
Military procurement generally requires an offset provision 
in tender specifications when the estimated value of the 
imported goods and/or services exceeds five million dollars. 
Turkish procedures provide little incentive for U.S. 
companies to satisfy offset requirements (the obligation to 
invest or buy Turkish exports as a condition of winning 
defense contracts) by investing in non-defense industries. 
6.  RIGHT TO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP AND ESTABLISHMENT 
 
 
Foreign and domestic private entities have the right to 
freely establish and own business enterprises and engage in 
all forms of remunerative activity.  As noted above, 
restrictions exist in the establishment of firms in certain 
sectors where the share of foreign ownership is limited to 
20 percent in broadcasting and up to 49 percent in aviation, 
maritime transportation, and value-added telecommunication 
services.  Certain activities are reserved for GOT owned 
enterprises.  For example, by law, Turk Telekom has a 
monopoly until December 31, 2003 on providing basic 
telephone services.  Beyond these areas, private entities 
may freely establish, acquire, and dispose of interests in 
business enterprises, and foreign participation is permitted 
up to 100 percent. 
 
 
Competitive equality is the standard applied to private 
enterprises in competition with public enterprises with 
respect to access to markets, credit, and other business 
operations.  Turkey is adopting the EU's competition policy; 
a Competition Board was established in 1997 to implement the 
1994 competition (anti-monopoly) law. 
 
 
7.  PROTECTION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS 
 
 
Secured interests in property, both chattel and real are 
recognized and enforced.  There is a recognized and reliable 
system of recording such security interests.  For example, 
there is a land registry office where real estate is 
registered.  Turkey's legal system protects and facilitates 
acquisition and disposal of property rights, including land, 
buildings, and mortgages, although some parties have 
complained that the courts are slow in rendering decisions 
and that they are susceptible to external influence (see 
"Dispute Settlement"). 
 
 
Turkey's intellectual property rights regime has improved, 
but still presents problems.  In 1995, the Turkish 
Parliament approved new patent, trademark and copyright laws 
in connection with preparations for Turkey's customs union 
with the EU. In 2001, the Parliament enacted amendments to 
the copyright law, which provide retroactive protection, 
expand the list of protected items and include deterrent 
penalties against piracy.  These amendments brought Turkey 
into compliance with the WTO Agreement on Trade Related 
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in most 
areas.  In recognition of Turkey's progress in the IPR area, 
USTR removed Turkey from its Special 301 Priority Watch List 
and placed the country on its Watch List in 2002, where it 
remains in 2003. 
 
 
Intellectual property holders have praised Turkey's 2001 
legislation as a significant improvement in the legal 
regime.   In the software area, piracy rates have come down 
in recent years following an anti-piracy campaign and a 
directive to legalize software used in government bodies. 
However, piracy rates for recorded music remain persistently 
high.  Trademark holders contend that there is widespread 
and often sophisticated counterfeiting of their marks in 
Turkey. 
 
 
Turkey's 1995 patent law replaced a law originally passed in 
1879.  New trademark, industrial design, and geographic 
indicator laws were passed at the same time, completely 
revamping Turkey's foundation for industrial property 
protection.  Turkey also acceded to a number of 
international conventions in 1995, including the Stockholm 
Act of the Paris Convention, the Patent Cooperation Treaty, 
and the Strasbourg Agreement.  The Turkish Patent Institute 
(TPI) was established in 1994 as an independent legal entity 
(Law No. 4004, June 16, 1994) under the Ministry of Industry 
and Trade.  TPI's mission is to support technological 
development in Turkey, establish and protect intellectual 
property rights and provide public information on 
intellectual property rights.  Currently, TPI is 
understaffed to affect countrywide protection. 
 
 
In accordance with the 1995 patent law and Turkey's 
agreement with the EU, patent protection for pharmaceuticals 
began on January 1, 1999.  Turkey has been accepting patent 
applications since 1996 in compliance with the TRIPS 
agreement "mailbox" provisions.  The patent law does not, 
however, contain interim protection for pharmaceuticals in 
the R&D "pipeline." 
 
 
The key IPR concern for research-based pharmaceutical 
companies is Turkey's lack of data exclusivity protection, 
which is required by the TRIPS agreement.  The lack of data 
exclusivity, combined with the lack of interim patent 
protection, poses substantial problems for research-based 
pharmaceutical companies. 
 
 
8.  TRANSPARENCY OF THE REGULATORY SYSTEM 
 
 
The GOT has adopted policies and laws, which in principle 
should foster competition and transparency. However, foreign 
companies in several sectors claim that regulations are 
sometimes applied in a nontransparent manner.  In 2002, the 
GOT published a report on transparency and good governance 
in Turkey's public sector and established an interagency 
steering committee to implement it.  The plan calls for: 
greater public access to information from the government and 
public sector entities; financial disclosure by elected 
public officials; and decentralization of most public 
services. 
 
 
The government in principle follows competitive bidding 
procedures.  In 2003, Law 4734 on Public Procurement entered 
into force.  The law established a board to oversee public 
tenders, and lowered the minimum bidding threshold at which 
foreign companies can participate in state tenders. 
However, the law restricts preferences for domestic bidders 
to Turkish citizens and legal entities established by them. 
Domestic bidders who form joint ventures with foreign 
bidders are not eligible for the preference.  The public 
procurement law may be further amended in the future. 
 
 
In general, labor, health and safety laws and policies do 
not distort or impede investment, although legal 
restrictions on discharging employees may provide a 
disincentive to labor-intensive activity in the formal 
economy.  Certain tax policies distort investment decisions. 
High taxation of cola drinks discourage investment in this 
sector.  Generous tax preferences for free zones provide a 
stimulus to investment in these zones, perhaps at the 
expense of investment elsewhere in Turkey.  These 
preferences may be trimmed under legislation currently under 
consideration. 
 
 
Particularly beyond the establishment phase, bureaucratic 
"red tape" has been  a significant barrier to companies, 
both foreign and domestic.  Parliament passed Law 4884 in 
June 2003 which should simplify company establishment 
procedures.  The law repeals the permit requirement from the 
Industry and Commerce Ministry for certain firms, institutes 
a single company registration form and enables individuals 
to register their companies through local commercial 
registry offices of the Turkish Union of Chambers and 
Commodity Exchanges.  The goal is to enable registration to 
be completed in as little as one day and to encourage 
electronic sharing of documents.  Turkish government 
agencies are expected to issue implementing regulations 
needed to bring the law into force.  The government is also 
considering other measures  to streamline procedures for 
establishing and operating a business in Turkey, based on 
recommendations made in a World Bank-funded study on 
administrative barriers to investment. 
Pearson