A strange sense of Turkey's international identity

A couple of weeks ago I came across two advertisements in the European version of Newsweek (October 1, 2007). Now normally I wouldn't take the time to create a commentary for an ad, but this was one struck me in a couple of ways - particularly why a large nation feels it has to take out ad space to proclaim that it's ready for your business? Why said country could not design a better ad (it had to use the heart symbol - and this sure wasn't for cardiovascular health reasons or Eurovision) considering the cost to Turkish taxpayers and businesses to place two ads in Newsweek? And why two MNCs (Nortel and Indesit) presented their names so publicly in an ad that is factually incorrect?


Now again, this wouldn't matter so much normally, because ads are often misleading, but this particular one was issued by the `Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Investment Support and Promotion Agency` and had the audacity to bullet point the following `fact`about Turkey, and I quote:

• Ranked as the 17th largest economy in the world and the 6th largest economy in the EU.

If I'm not mistaken, Turkey is not a member of the European Union, a prospective one possibly, but in no way is it a current one. There's nothing wrong about not being a member of the EU - but I certainly question why it feels the need to tell the world it is something it's not. Why does a nation feel it has to try and hoodwink thousands readers of a news magazine that it is something it is not? Surely there are better ways to promote your economy and your industry then this?