Khatay

Republic of Khatay Jumhuria al Khaṭāy (Arabic) Hatay Cumhuriyeti (Turkish) Hanrapetut’yun Hatay (Armenian)
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Union and Concord
Anthem: Mawtini - "My Homeland"
Map of Khatay's administrative divisions
Capital and largest city	Antakiyah
Official languages	Arabic, Turkish, Armenian
Recognized languages	Kurdish, Hebrew, Greek, Circassian
Ethnic groups	Arabs, Turks, Alawites, Armenians, Circassians, Kurds, Syriacs, Melkites, Greeks, Jews.
Demonym(s)	Khatayan
Government	Parliamentary Republic
• President	Ayman El Khoury
• Prime Minister	Yousif Aflaq
History
• Independence	1946
• Officers' Coup	1964
• Turkish Occupation	1975 - 1981
• Khatayan Civil War	1975 - 1984
Population
• 2010 estimate	1,626,456
GDP (PPP)	2010 estimate
• Total	24,414,731,016 (123)
• Per capita	15,011 (74)
GDP (nominal)	2010 estimate
• Total	14,864,181,384
• Per capita	9,139 (67)
Gini (2010)	32.2 medium
HDI (2010)	0.781 high (64)
Currency	Khatayan Pound (ك.أ.)
Time zone	UTCUTC+3 (Eastern European Standard Time)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+969
Internet TLD	ky

Khatay, officially known as the Republic of Khatay (Arabic: Jumhuria al Khaṭāy, Turkish: Hatay Cumhuriyeti, Armenian: Hanrapetut’yun Hatay), is a sovereign nation located in northern Levant. Khatay is a unitary republic with a separation of powers between its Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches and is an officially secular state with constitutional protections for ethnic and religious minorities. The Republic of Khatay is bordered by the Republic of Turkey to her north, the Syrian Arab Republic to her east and the Republic of Lebanon to her south. The population of the country is heavily urban. Roughly one third of the nation lives in the capital city of Antakiyah and the surrounding Antakiyah Greater Area which serves as the nation's economic, commercial and cultural center. The geography of the country is largely coastal and hilly, being located on the Mediterranean and bisected by the Nur Mountains.

Prior to its independence, Khatay was part of the French State of Aleppo, an integral component of the French Mandate of Syria and was administered as a colonial possession of the Third French Republic. The nation was born out of a rebellion against France in order to stop the planned annexation of the region by Turkey. The rebellion saw a rapid success as the French government struggled to maintain control over the possession during the Second War and the British government pressured the French to abandon its operations in the region. After several years of independent rule, the civilian government was overthrown by nationalist Army Officers in 1964 who established The National Council for Progress and Stability. The National Council governed the nation for several years however its alignment with Pan-Arab movements, harsh authoritarian measures and repression of pro-Turkish movements in the country led to the NATO-endorsed intervention of Turkey in 1975. The Turkish intervention triggered a the Khatayan Civil War and the military government fled to Syria. The Civil War ended following Turkey's withdrawal in 1981, and a United States led United Nations intervention in 1982. The Jordanian-led peace negotiations which began in November of 1983 were able to bring about a full peace agreement in 1984, with UN observers overseeing free and fair elections held later that year. The new civilian government held a referendum later that year gaining popular consent to hold a constitutional convention, which passed by an overwhelming margin. The Constitutional Convention of 1985 resulted in the present Constitution of the Republic of Khatay which outlined its present model of governance with amendments later being added in 1987, 1993 and 1999.

Today Khatay is a member of the United Nations, the Union for the Mediterranean, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, World Bank, European Free Trade Agreement and the Non-Aligned Movement, and is an observer in the Arab League.

History

Turkish Rule

(1516-1922)

For more information, visit: Sanjak of Alexandretta

By the time it was taken from the Mameluks by the Ottoman Sultan Selim I in 1516, Antakya was a medium-sized town on 2km of land between the Orontes River and Mount Habib Neccar. Under the Ottomans the area was known as the sanjak (or governorate) of Alexandretta. Gertrude Bell in her book Syria The Desert & the Sown published in 1907 wrote extensively about her travels across Syria including Antioch & Alexandretta and she noted the heavy mix between Turks and Arabs in the region at that time. A map published circa 1911 highlighted that the ethnic make up (Alexandretta) was majority Arab with smaller communities of Armenians and Turks.

Ethnic groups in the Balkans and Asia Minor, early 20th Century, Historical Atlas, 1911

Many consider that Alexandretta had been traditionally part of Syria. Maps as far back as 1764 confirm this. During the First World War in which the Ottoman Empire was defeated most of Syria was occupied by the British forces. But when the Armistice of Mudros was signed at the end of the war, Khatay was still part of the Ottoman Empire. Nevertheless, after the armistice it was occupied by the British forces in an operation which was never accepted by the Ottoman side. Later like the rest of Syria it was handed over to France by the British Empire.

French Colonial Rule

(1921-1946)

After World War I and the Turkish War of Independence, the Ottoman Empire was disbanded and the modern Republic of Turkey was created, and Alexandretta was not part of the new republic, it was put within the French mandate of Syria after a signed agreement between the Allies and Turkey, the Treaty of Sèvres, which was neither ratified by the Ottoman parliament nor by the Turkish National Movement in Ankara. The subsequent Treaty of Lausanne also put Alexandretta within Syria. The document detailing the boundary between Turkey and Syria around 1920 and subsequent years is presented in a report by the Official Geographer of The Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the US Department of State. A French-Turkish treaty of 20 October 1921 rendered the Sanjak of Alexandretta autonomous, and remained so from 1921 to 1923. Out of 220,000 inhabitants in 1921, 87,000 were Turks. Along with Turks the population of the Sanjak included: Arabs of various religious denominations (Sunni Muslims, Alawites, Greek Orthodox); Greek Catholics, Syriac-Maronites; Jews; Syriacs; Kurds; and Armenians. In 1923 Khatay was attached to the State of Aleppo, and in 1925 it was directly attached to the French mandate of Syria, still with special administrative status.

Turkish borders according to the Treaty of Lausanne, 1923

Despite this, a Turkish community remained in Alexandretta, and Mustafa Kemal claimed that Khatay had been a Turkish homeland for 4,000 years. This was due to the contested nationalist pseudoscientific Sun Language Theory prevalent in the 1930s in Turkey, which presumed that some ancient peoples of Anatolia and the Middle East such as the Sumerians and Hittites, hence the name Khatay, were related to the Turks. In truth, the Turks first appeared in Anatolia during the 11th century when the Seljuk Turks occupied the eastern province of the Abbasid Empire and captured Baghdad. Resident Arabs organized under the banner of Arabism, and in 1930, Zaki al-Arsuzi, a teacher and lawyer from Arsuz on the coast of Alexandretta published a newspaper called 'Arabism' in Antioch that was shut down by Turkish and French authorities.

The 1936 elections returned two MPs favoring the independence of Syria from France, and this prompted communal riots as well as passionate articles in the Turkish and Syrian press. This then became the subject of a complaint to the League of Nations by the Turkish government concerning alleged mistreatment of the Turkish populations. Atatürk demanded that Khatay become part of Turkey claiming that the majority of its inhabitants were Turks. However, the French High Commission estimated that the population of 220,000 inhabitants was made up of 46% Arabs (28% Alawites, 10% Sunni, 8% Christians), 39% Turks, 11% Armenians, while the remaining 4% was made up of Circassians, Jews, and Kurds. The sanjak was given autonomy in November 1937 in an arrangement brokered by the League. Under its new statute, the sanjak became 'distinct but not separated' from the French mandate of Syria on the diplomatic level, linked to both France and Turkey for defense matters.

Hatay State

In 1938, after persistent lobbying from representatives from the Sanjak of Alexandretta, and a greater measure of autonomy is achieved when on September 2, 1938, the sanjak assembly proclaimed the Sanjak of Alexandretta as the Hatay State. Elections were organized later that week on September 7th and the Hatay State People Assembly (Turkish: Hatay Devleti Millet Meclisi) consisted of 40 members, consisting of 22 Turks, nine Alawites, five Armenians, two Orthodox Greeks and two Sunni Arabs.

On July 7, 1939 a plebiscite is held on the matter of Turkish annexation, but fails to pass largely due to the heavy campaigning of Yusuf al-Sa'dun. The Republic of Turkey demands that Yusuf al-Sa'dun be arrested as there are allegations of voter fraud however, Abdurrahman Melek who had been a moderate opponent of annexation meets with and mediatates a peace between the Tayfur Sökmen administration and Yusuf al-Sa'dun. Eventually Sökmen and several Turkish members of the Hatay State People Assembly agrees that annexation will only create future tension in the region and provoke conflict with neighboring Syria. On August 2nd, 1939 President Tayfur Sökmen, Yusuf al-Sa'dun and Abdurrahman Melek reconvene along with several other members of the People Assembly and agree to hold the plebiscite as binding and to oppose annexation going forward. Furthermore, democratic elections are to be held for a constituent assembly that will determine the future of the region in 1942.

(WIP)

War of Independence

(1943-1946) Fought against France, won due to diplomatic pressure from the United Kingdom and United States.

Early Republican Period

(1946-1964)

Military Junta

(1964-1971)

Ali Haydar Regime

(1971-1975)

Khatayan Civil War

(1975 - 1984)

Turkish Intervention

(1975 - 1981)

United States led UN Intervention

(1984)

Re-establishment of the Republic of Khatay

(1984-1985)

Reconstruction Era

(1985-1991)

Modern History

(1991-Present)

Geography

Cities

Ranking	Name	Population
1.	Antakiyah	260,937 (including Greater Antakiyah 548,271)
2.	Iskenderun	184,833
3.	Arsuz	83,963
4.	Reyhanli	63,563
5.	as-Sūwaydīya	44,912
6.	Payas	33,353
7.	Harbiye	25,118
8.	Belen	22,577

Politics

Political Parties in Khatay

NOTE: Information for some parties may currently be missing, this information needs to be submitted by the party leader to be added to the table.

Party	Position	Ideology	Leader	Seats in the National Congress	Bloc
Republican Party	Centre-Right to Right	National Unity, Protection of Minorities, Social Conservatism, Fiscal Conservatism	Yousif Aflaq	43 / 138	RP-MF Government
Party of National Renewal	Center-Left to Left	Expansion of Welfare and Social Aid, Anti-Corruption, Worker's Rights, Unionism	Sulayman al-Aslan	26 / 138	PNR-ARF Official Opposition
Movement for Federation	Center-Right	Support of a Federal State and more autonomy of ethnic and religious minorities, Economic protectionism, social conservatism	Ehmed Nuri	18 / 138	RP-MF Government
Armenian Revolutionary Federation	Center-Left to Center-Right	Left wing economic policies, social centrism, Armenian interests, other minority interests	Tsakig Pakradounian	16 / 138	PNR-ARF Official Opposition
National Front of Khatay	Right	Support for a strong unitary state, secularism, protectionism, social conservatism and stronger sedition laws against radical Islamist and separatist organizations.	Husayn Mansur	16 / 138	NF Cross-Bench
Islamic Coalition of Khatay	Center-Left	Social Conservatism, Fiscal Center-left	Noor Al-Asfour	10 / 138	RP-MF-IC Confidence & Supply
Turkish Cultural League	Far-Right	Socially reactionary, Turkish interests, Pro-Turkish re-unification	Adnan Bayraktar	6 / 138	TCL Cross-Bench
Circassian Rights' League	Center-left to center-right	Circassian interests, minority interests, social democracy, free trade, moderate social conservatism	Laliyne Ivanov	1 / 138	CRL Cross-Bench
Syriac Union Party	Center?	Syriac interests, minority interests	Domarina Oshana	1 / 138	SUP Cross-Bench
Jewish Minority Seat	?	Jewish interests, minority interests	Zarad Kafni	1 / 138	JMS Cross-Bench

Khatay Armed Forces

Army

The Khatay Federal Army is the land-based component of the Khatay Armed Forces, and represents the largest portion of its personnel. It is responsible to the Government of the Republic of Khatay and headed by the Chief of the Federal Army, [Insert Name Here], who reports to the Minister of War [Insert Name Here], who reports directly to the President of the Republic of Khatay.

As of 2010, the Khatayan Army employs 15,373 personnel including the Republican Guard and civilian auxiliary staff. The Khatayan Army is a purely volunteer based force and therefore soldiers are considered professional soldiers. (For further reading, see main article: Khatay Army)

Navy

The Khatay Federal Navy is the marine-based component of the Khatay Armed Forces, tasked with coastal defense, and rescue operations while also maintaining a combat component. It is responsible to the Government of the Republic of Khatay and headed by the Chief of the Khatay Navy, [Insert Name Here], who reports to the Minister of War [Insert Name Here], who reports directly to the President of the Republic of Khatay.

As of 2010, the Khatay Federal Navy employs numberxhere personnel including the Coastal Defense Division. The Khatay Federal Navy is a volunteer force and therefore those enlisted and commissioned in the Navy are considered professional sailors.

Coastal Defense Division

The Coastal Defense Division (CDD) is an administrative division responsible for coastal and harbor security, as well as search and rescue operations in Khatay. The Coastal Defense Division is primarily responsible for coastal artillery, and search and rescue aircraft which are operated by sailors and aviators in the Khatay Federal Navy. The Coastal Defense Corps is headed by the Director of the CDD, [insert name here].

Air Force

The Khatayan Air Force is the aviation component of the Khatayan Armed Forces and coordinates with the Coast Defense Division of the Khatayan Federal Navy for the purposes of coastal air defense. The Khatayan Air Force is headed by the Chief of the Khatayan Air Force, [Insert Name Here] who is in turn responsible to the Minister of War, [Insert Name Here]. The Khatayan Air Force operates out of the Yusuf al-Sa'dun Airbase, however also operates out of smaller domestic and regional airports and retains the right of primary access to Antakiyah International Airport in the case of war.

Equipment

Weapons

Weapon	Picture	Origin	Type	Notes
Pistols
Beretta M9		United States of America Italy	Handgun	Used throughout the Khatayan Forces as service pistol.
Submachine guns
Heckler & Koch MP5		Germany	Personal Defense Weapon	Used by Khatayan Army ground forces and Khatayan Gendarmerie.
Saab Bofors Dynamics CBJ-MS		Sweden	Submachinegun	Used by Khatayan Gendarmerie.
Rifles
FN FAL		Belgium	Battle Rifle	Used throughout Khatay Army as standard issue rifle.
Shotguns
Browning Auto-5		United States of America	Shotgun	Used by Khatay Republican Guard and the Gendarmerie's Counterterrorism Division.
Machine guns
FN MAG		Belgium	General-purpose machine gun	Used by Khatayan Army
M60 machine gun		United States of America	General-purpose machine gun	Used by Khatayan Army
M2 Browning		United States of America	Heavy machine gun	Used by Khatayan Army
Anti-materiel weapons
Accuracy International AS50		United Kingdom	Anti-materiel precision rifle
RPG-7		Russia	Rocket-propelled grenade launcher
M29 mortar		United States of America	Mortar

Aircraft

Aircraft	Picture	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
Fighter aircraft
Panavia Tornado		United Kingdom	Multirole combat aircraft, strike aircraft	21	15 in active service, 6 in reserve
Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano		Brazil	Light attack aircraft	7	In active service
Slingsby T67 Firefly		United Kingdom	Trainer	3	2 in service, 1 in reserve
Hawker Siddeley Nimrod		United Kingdom	Maritime patrol aircraft	2	In active service
Helicopters
Westland WS-61 Sea King		United Kingdom	Medium-lift transport and utility helicopter	5	In active service
Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma		France	Utility helicopter	12	In active service
Bell UH-1 Iroquois		United States	Utility helicopter	45	In active service

Demographics

Ethnno-Religious Groups

*Note: Alawites, Sunni Arabs and Levantines are all Arabs but are counted separately due to religious and cultural differences.

Khatay classifies its ethnic and religious groups along two lines "Ethnno-Religious" and purely "Religious" lines. Ethno-religous groups are noted where significant religious differences have resulted in cultural pillarization and thereby are understood as distinct ethnic polities. Religious groups include all members of specified religious groups and sects.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Khatay

Overview

The economy of Khatay is classified as a developing, upper-middle income economy. The GDP (PPP) was estimated $24.4 billion in 2010, with a per capita GDP amounting to $15,011. Government spending amounted to $4.9 billion in 2009, or 25% of GDP.

The Khatayan economy has grown significantly since the turn of the century, with growth averaging 10.1% between 2000 and 2009. The Khatayan economy is service, industry and agricultural oriented. Khatay has a partially regulated market economy, with the country's constitution protecting the right to private property and establishing Khatay as a market economy while also providing provisions to protect the rights of Khatayan workers. The major economic sectors include metal products, crude oil refinement, agriculture, chemicals, and transport equipment. Main growth sectors include banking and tourism. There are no restrictions on foreign exchange or capital movement.

The agricultural sector employs 14% of the total workforce. Agriculture contributed to 6.3% of the country's GDP in 2009.Khatay's proportion of cultivable land is the second highest in the Arab world after {wp|Lebanon}, Major produce includes apples, peaches, oranges, and lemons. The commodities market in Khatay includes substantial steel production, primarily conducted in Iskanderun in it's major steelworks plants. Otherwise, Industry in Khatay is mainly limited to small businesses that reassemble and package imported parts. In 2007, industry ranked second in workforce, with 29% of the Khatayan working population, and second in GDP contribution, with 23% of Khatay's GDP. Nearly 55% of the Khatayan workforce attain employment in the services sector. The GDP contribution, accordingly, amounts to roughly 46% of the annual Khatayan GDP. However, dependence on the tourism industry in particular leaves the economy vulnerable to political instability.

Khatay is a member of the World Bank, Union for the Mediterranean and the European Free Trade Agreement and is an observer member of the Arab League.

Transport

The country is served by Antakiyah Airport, as well as inter-city buses.

Energy

In 2008, about 56% of Khatay's electricity supply was provided by Oil.

Organized Labor

The General Confederation of Labor (GCL) is Khatay's highest authority for organized labor. The Agricultural Worker's Federation, Industrial Worker's of Khatay and Congress of Service Sector Workers are subordinate to the GCL. The Federal Labor Relations Board mediates disputes between the GCL and major corporations.

Culture

Sport

Established in 1951, the Khatay Football Association became Khatay's first FIFA associated national football league.

The Khatay National Cricket League was established in 1964.

Symbols

Native Cuisine

Khatay is warm enough to grow tropical crops such as sweet potato and sugar cane, and these are used in the local cuisine, along with other local specialities including a type of cucumber/squash called kitte. Well-known dishes of Khatay are its local variety of a widespread syrup-rich shredded pastry [[Wikipedia:künefe}, squash cooked in onions and tomato paste (sıhılmahsi), aubergine and tahini paste ({wp|Baba ghanoush]]), chickpea and tahini paste hummus and dishes such as kebab. Particular spice mixes and herb mixes are popular. Pastes include:

• walnut and spice paste, muhammara
• thyme and parsley paste, Za'atar

Animal products include spicy {wp|köfte}} (across western Asia and beyond, kofta): "oruk"; and spicy sun-dried cheese, surke.

Syrup of pomegranate (nar ekşisi) is Khatay's hallmark salad dressing.