which also resulted in the temporary suspension of the European Convention on Human Rights pursuant to Article 15 of the Convention. On August 7, 2016, several million people gathered in Istanbul for an anti-coup rally organized by the Turkish authorities. The President, Prime Minister and the two leaders of the opposition parties participated in the anti-coup rally. On each of October 3, 2016, January 3, 2017, April 18, 2017, July 17, 2017, October 17, 2017, January 18, 2018, and April 18, 2018, the Parliament approved an extension of the state of emergency, declared after the country’s failed military coup, by a further three months. The state of emergency has not been extended beyond July 18, 2018.
Turkish authorities are continuing to search for coup participants and others with alleged links to the FETÖ, and may detain, arrest, fire or suspend more people. These actions have been the subject of criticism by the EU and others and may lead to strain in the Republic’s relationships with other countries, such as the tension with the United States associated with Turkish requests to extradite Fethullah Gülen.
Any further negative changes in the political environment of the Republic may affect the stability of the Turkish economy or its institutions. In addition, any instability in the Turkish economy and financial system may adversely affect the Republic’s credit quality.
The failure of the Turkish Government to implement its proposed economic and financial policies, including those set forth in the Republic’s Economic Reform Agenda and the 2019-2021 New Economy Program (see “Recent Developments and Summary” for further information), may also adversely affect the Turkish economy and the Republic’s credit quality.
Risks associated with significant seismic events.
A significant portion of the Republic’s population and most of its economic resources are located in a first degree earthquake risk zone and the Republic has experienced a large number of earthquakes in recent years, some quite significant in magnitude. For example, in October 2011, the eastern part of the country was struck by an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, causing significant property damage and loss of life. On February 6, 2017, two earthquakes with preliminary magnitudes of 5.3 on the Richter scale jolted Turkey’s northern Aegean coast, damaging dozens of homes in at least five villages and injuring at least five people. On March 2, 2017, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 hit south-eastern Turkey, damaging buildings and injuring five people. In the event of future earthquakes, effects from the direct impact of such events could have a material adverse effect on the Republic’s economy.
Volatile international markets and events may have a negative effect on the Turkish economy.
As a result of economic instability in many developed and emerging markets, the international financial markets have experienced a significant amount of volatility and many financial market indices have declined significantly. The potential impact of such volatility on the Turkish market and on securities issued by the Republic, including the notes, is uncertain.
The Republic is located in a region which has been subject to ongoing political and security concerns, especially in recent years. These concerns in certain neighboring countries, such as Iran, Iraq, Georgia, Armenia and Syria, have been one of the potential risks associated with investment in securities issued by the Republic. Further, since December 2010, political instability has increased markedly in a number of countries in the Middle East and North Africa, such as Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Bahrain and Yemen. As a result of the anti-government uprising in Syria, more than two million Syrian refugees have fled to the Republic and more can be expected to cross the Turkish-Syrian border if the unrest in Syria continues or escalates. The ongoing conflict in Syria has been the subject of significant international attention and its impact and resolution is difficult to predict. Any continuation or escalation of political instability or international military intervention in Syria and/or a more aggressive stance by Assad’s allies, Russia, Iran, and/or China against Turkey and opposition supporters may act as a destabilizing factor for Turkey. The high number of refugees within Turkey’s borders
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