Who do turks consider closer

Yes, Turkey is a Middle Eastern country. But Turkey isnt Muslim. It is secular. You can say most Anatolian Turks are Muslims. But we have Sunnites (majority), Alevis (around %20), Bektashis, even Naqshibendis here. And religion isnt whant makes us familiar with Iran. It actually seperates us, even from Azeris, because they're Shias. But noone cares about that. Iranian culture is very similar with us, especially with anatolian culture rather than the Istanbulite and Rumelian/Aegean culture. You cant differ a mosque in Istanbul from a church in Serbia, and you cant differ a pre-Ottoman madrasa in Konya or Sivas (anatolian cities) from one in Tehran.

About historical ties, our historical ties with Greeks are no less than with Syrians or Georgians. But there is a diference btw our similarities with Armenians and our similarities with Greeks. Armenians are Anatolians, most Kurds are Anatolians (culturally), Laz are Anatolians etc. But Greeks arent. Of course we have lots of things in common with them, including some cultural features, but it is mainly for Aegean Turks. Most of Anatolia is much more familiar with Armenians, Kurds or even Iran than they're with Greeks.

*edit - someone wants to talk on Greece - do it in another topic*

I agree.

[QUOTE] The mixing of Iranian and Turkish culture started 1800 years ago in Central Asia[/QU(OTE]

Yes. We have always lived together. Especially with Sogdians and Saka.

Ok some of them?

Some of them? Sorry but I am not aware of this big love to greece, and bigger hate to Iran.

And I should say, I lived at Istanbul, not now living in Ankara, two biggest city and If there were a match Iran vs Greece, I think most probably Turks will support Iran. this has nothing with Muslim vs kafir.

Or what is reason of our love to brazilians?

Zagros Infact realy realy a tiny minority interest with this European wanna be  position, Our aim is money, not European culture.

You can easyly saw this, with Turkish support to EU. when our economy is bad, support rise, and when It goes good, support fall.

Look we Turks never ever wannabe Europeans, even M. K. Atat�rk didnt say that. I just wanna be myself, a good Muslim a good person deep in my heart, nothing less nothing more. I agree on that face to face level and rest.

Ok some of them.

most of Turkey chose to be closer with Greece

most of Turkey? 

Ofcourse, if they play again they will support Iran for sure. Because we allways look from Ottoman perspective btw Muslim vs kafir.

Originally posted by tommy I am Chinese. I know Chinese history. In ancient China, there were connections and war between Chinese and turks, and Chinese books talked about the origin of Turks.The books said that at first, turks were the servants of another nomadic group, chinese name of this group was You Yen, i do not know the english name of this group of people. may be there was some ethnical relation between these two groups of people.some Chinese books said that Huns were the ansectors of the Turks.

No doubt about that.

@Zagros

I may disappoint you but youre wrong

You cant know the origin of the people by only their religious celeberations, just with genetical proofs and historical proofs.

I should be closer to Iran but Iran has to be closer to the Islamic country's on political part (issue between Pakistan and Hindus).

Something here i think its strange, most of guys here and most of Turkey chose to be closer with Greece. But weve lived almost 1000 years with Iran and other arabic country's you know so why not chosing them?

If you go to northern iran like tebriz and those areas, the people don't look iranian to many peopl. The reason is that iranian all over the country are iranian same people, however in the south the are bit darker and in north the are lighter, more they look like caucasian.  In tehran there is mix alot as they come from all areas to the big city.. So yes probably the armenians , uzbekhs, turcoman, afghans are more distinguishable from iranians and azeris. however many armenians i have seen look very much like iranians and i couldnt tell the difference until i knew they were armani, same thing with azeris, they mostly look iranian but there are few alsos who look very light skinned and some who are darker skinned. just like the iranians themselves, there are some very light and seom very dark. And also same in turkey , when i went there i saw kind of the same mix in tehran, few people with VERY light features, most looking caucaisan with olive skin and mediteranean looking. in istanbul i think there are many light skinned people though especially on turkish airways many of the airhostests are very light and could pass of as scandinavian easily, but once i went in to the streets etc., i didnt see anyone like them. So basically iran and turkey like greece, armenia, arab, itali , and many other countries in the same geogrpaghical line, ie., climate etc have people thats look the same and some different.

Suppose there is a footbal match (in World Cup) between Iran and Greece, then which team do the majority of people in Turkey support? I think this is an effecient way to test who do you think is closer to you.

Well Iran. Maybe Culturaly Turk are more closed to Greece, Even I am not sure about this. (After all religion was and is core of cultures)But Turks feeling are more close to Iran.

We must not also forget Turkey is muslim as I said, giving them more cultural ties to the Middle East, which I believe Turkey is a middle eastern country. And since Greece is a european country, Turks will feel more "realted" towards other Middle eastern countries because of common religion, culture, and historic ties.