ANKARA, TURKEY -- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday the Turkish national carrier will rebrand as 鈥淭urkiye Hava Yollari鈥� instead of 鈥淭urkish Airlines鈥� as part of a push for his country to be known internationally as 鈥淭urkiye鈥� instead of 鈥淭urkey.鈥�
Earlier this month, Ankara sent a letter to the United Nations, formally registering the country's name as 鈥淭urkiye鈥� - as it is spelled and pronounced in Turkish. The country called itself 鈥淭urkiye鈥� in 1923 after its declaration of independence.
Erdogan's government said the name 鈥淭urkiye鈥� better represents Turkish culture and values although observers say the move is part of an effort to dissociate its name from the bird, turkey.
鈥淭urkey no longer exists. It is Turkiye,鈥� Erdogan said during a ceremony marking the launch of a new communications satellite.
Erdogan continued: 鈥淭urkiye Hava Yollari will be inscribed on the bodies of our planes instead of Turkish Airlines.鈥�
鈥淗ava Yollari鈥� is airlines in Turkish.
The UN and NATO have formally begun using 鈥淭urkiye鈥� instead of 鈥淭urkey.鈥� Some high-ranking foreign dignitaries visiting Ankara have also made the switch.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg referred to the country as 鈥淭urkiye鈥� during visits to Helsinki and Stockholm this week, as did Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. The two countries are trying to overcome a Turkish objection to their bid to join the military alliance.
As a NATO ally, Ankara has the power to block their membership bids. The country accuses the two Nordic nations of backing Kurdish militant groups.
