INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary,

Published: Tue 20 May 2003 04:24 PM
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ADANA 0139
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
MAY 20, 2003
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for May 20, 2003. Please note that Turkish press
reports often contain errors or exaggerations;
AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for the accuracy
of the reports summarized here.
POLITICAL, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS
2. Radikal/Milliyet: The police and jandarma
have been alerted to arrest seven contractors of
the buildings that collapsed and killed many
people during the earthquake in Bingol on May 1.
Pictures of the wanted contractors have been
distributed to the security officials, and a
warrant of arrest has been issued for the
contractors. Hurriyet reports that under the "Do
not let our schools collapse" campaign initiated
by Hurriyet Paper and Channel-D, a delegation of
eight experts from Middle East Technical
University started examining the schools in
Bingol by taking samples of concrete for
analyzing in their labs in Ankara.
3. Milli Gazete: The earthquake victims in
Bingol are afraid to go into their damaged
houses. Three families are staying in one tent in
Bingol's Asagikoy village with 81 houses, 500
inhabitants. The villagers were afraid to go into
their houses because of aftershocks, and only 25
tents have been issued to their village with 81
houses. The village headman, Abdulkerim Boztimur,
said 20 persons were staying in one tent and
asked for more tents rather than any relief
material or foodstuff. Bingol Governor, Huseyin
Avni Cos, announced that they delivered 13
thousand tents and 400 tons of foodstuffs in
Bingol to date.
4. Milliyet: According to the State Statistic
Institute (SSI), there is 9 percent unemployment
rate throughout Turkey, but 17 percent in Batman,
and 15 percent in Osmaniye and Sanliurfa. While 8
percent in Istanbul and 16 percent in Ankara of
the employed population are engaged in
agricultural sector, this ratio is 83 percent in
Mus and 78 in Ardahan. While 64 percent of
employees work in service sectors in Ankara, only
13 percent are employed in this sector in Mus.
While 32 percent of the employed persons are
hired in the industrial sectors in Istanbul, this
ratio is only one percent in Ardahan, Hakkari,
Bingol and Agri provinces.
5. Evrensel: The 3rd Cultural and Art Festival
sponsored by Diyarbakir Municipality will be held
between May 23- June 01 with a concert by
Borusan's Philharmonic Orchestra at the
historical walls of Diyarbakir. Many Turkish and
Kurdish singers are expected to attend the
festival.
HOLTZ
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