CHRONOLOGY OF MODERN TURKEY 1923 - UNTIL TODAY

1923

♦ Republic of Turkey proclaimed on October 29, 1923 as successor state     to 600-year-old Ottoman Empire. Mustafa Kemal named President. 
♦ Capital moved from Constantinople to Ankara.

March 1924

♦ Abdulmecid is deposed and the Islamic caliphate is formally abolished

Apr 1924

♦ Turkey adopts a constitution that adopts a one-party rule and bans the     Ottoman family

1926

♦ Boundary with Iraq settled by League of Nations initiative

1928

♦ Turkey becomes secular: clause retaining Islam as state religion
  removed from constitution.

1930

♦ Constantinople officially becomes Istanbul.

1936

♦ Montreux Convention regulates ship transit through the Turkish Straits.

November 10, 1938

♦ Mustafa Kemal, better known as Kemal Ataturk father of the Turks, dies   succeeded by Ismet Inonu.

1939

♦ Franco-Turkish agreement transfers Syrian province of Alexandretta to 
  Turkey, present - day Hatay Province.

1945

♦ Neutral for most of World War II, Turkey declares war on Germany and
  Japan, but does not take part in combat. Joins United Nations.

1947

♦ Truman Doctrine results in large-scale US military and economic aid.

1950

♦ First free elections won by opposition Democratic Party.

1952

♦ Turkey abandons Ataturk's neutralist policy and joins NATO

1954

♦Military facilities agreement with US allows stationing of American forces.

1960

♦ Military coup, civilian government reinstated in 1961.

1964

♦ UN forestalls threatened military intervention to protect Turkish Cypriots
  on Cyprus.

1967

♦ War with Greece over Cyprus is narrowly averted

1971

♦ Coup by memorandum replaces government

1974

♦ Greece engineers coup on Cyprus. 
♦ Turkish forces invade and occupy northern part of island.

1980-1983

♦ Political impasse results in military intervention in civilian government   and martial law and later a new constitution. Turgut Ozal’s Motherland 
  Party (ANAP) wins 1983 general election.

1987

♦ Turkey applies for European Community membership.

1988

♦ Lucrative transit trade to Iran and Iraq shifts from wartime to
  reconstruction orientation after Tehran and Baghdad agree on armistice.

1990-1991

♦ Economy hard hit when UN-sponsored sanctions against Iraq curtail oil
  and commodities transit trade.

1993-1995

♦ Tansu Ciller becomes Turkey's first woman prime minister, with
  Suleyman Demirel as president. Pro - Islamist Welfare Party wins 
  elections but can not form a government.

1998-2000

♦ Welfare Party banned despite majority in parliament. Bulent Ecevit
  takes power with Ahmet Necdet Sezer as president.

2002-2003

♦ Islamist Justice & Development Party (AK) wins election, promising to 
  adhere to secular constitution. Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins seat in 
  parliament. Abdullah Gul resigns as prime minister and Erdogan takes
  over.

2003-2005

♦ In efforts to gain European Union (EU) membership, parliament reforms
  laws on civil rights, minority rights, penal code reforms, and the role of
  the military. EU membership negotiations are launched.

2007-2008

♦ The AK Party wins and candidate Abdullah Gul becomes president
♦ Parliament approves constitutional amendments rescinding head scarf
  ban in universities.

2011

♦ The Justice and Development Party (AKP) wins re-election, and Prime
  Minister Erdogan begins a third term.

2014

♦ Prime Minister Erdogan wins the first direct popular election for
  president.

November 2015

♦ Governing AKP party regains parliamentary majority in snap elections