Description
Object description
A brief profile of the history and culture of the NATO member country Turkey.
Content description
The film opens by stressing the strategic importance of Turkey's position. The history of Istanbul is briefly mentioned, as scenes show the Hagia Sophia and revived ceremonial marches in honour of the Janissaries. Cavalry are noted as having an ongoing importance to the army of Turkey and its defence, due to the difficult terrain of the North-East. Such cavalry help to bring weaponry to the positions difficult to access for unmounted infantry and unnavigable by tanks. Those in military service also benefit from an education in skills useful to their, and Turkey's, economic future. Turkey has much land that can still be put to agricultural use, and the government supports the growth of agriculture through surveying and providing grants of land, as well as the operation of machinery centres. Living standards have grown, following the resultant agricultural improvements. In Ankara, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, is shown. Views of the historical town and the modern city follow. Women, now freed to work in the secular Turkish republic, contribute significantly to medicine and education. Banking instituted by Atatürk supports the growth of heavy industry. New harbours are shown under construction, to support the growth in exports. At the regional NATO headquarters of Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe (LANDSOUTHEAST), Greek, Turkish and United States counterparts co-ordinate the defence of the region. The Balkan Pact of 1953 co-ordinating Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia is briefly mentioned. Turkey's recent elections are characterised as increasingly liberal. The film ends in emphasising the economic growth of Turkey, since the founding of the Republic, and the efforts to close the gap between the Turkish economy and those to the west.
N.B. A shorter version of the film is also held. This omits the sections on governmental land surveys and grants, the role of the banking sector, and the agreement of the Balkan Pact.
Physical description
35mm