Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary,

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0216

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
AUGUST 14, 2003

1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for August 14, 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. Bolge / Lerzan Kara, spokeswoman of the
Peace Platform, announced in a meeting held
in Adana that they don't want to see
Turkish soldiers in Iraq.

3. Bolge / Security Officials in Adana
announced that people should be alert when
they see suspicious packages in the town.
Officials distributed specially published
warnings in the town.

4. Cumhuriyet / Emine Kiyancicek, a
grandmother who spent 5 years in prison for
helping PKK complained about the government
for separating her from her grandchildren
for five years. "I still don't know why I
was kept in prison," she stated. Kiyancicek
benefited from the new amnesty law.

5. Evrensel / DEHAP, EMEP, Free Party, and
Diyarbakir Democracy Platform aim to
schedule a meeting in Diyarbakir on
September 1, World Peace Day.

6. Turkiye / Diyarbakir Security Authorities
tightened their security measures due to
possible August 15 attacks which is known
as the anniversary of the first attack of
PKK. All police forces are on alert until
August 16.

ECONOMIC

7. Hurriyet, Bolge, Express, Turkiye / Kemal
Onal, Governor of Adana, visited Ceyhan and
Yumurtalik. Onal had a meeting with Gurhan
Unal, the Area Manager of Petroleum
Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS). Gurhan Unal
stated that Adana would have natural gas
service in year 2005.

8. Hurriyet, Bolge / Umit Ozgumus, Head of the
Chamber of Industry in Adana, stated that
the Chamber won't support the Adana
Industrial Fair which will be held in
October. Ozgumus claimed that Mayor of
Adana and the Head of Chamber of Commerce
in Adana left Chamber of Industry aside in
their secret meetings for the industrial
fair. "We heard about the fair in the
newspapers", announced Ozgumus. "If they
included us, we would have told them the
difficulties of having a fair in tents and
why it shouldn't be planned for year 2003",
Ozgumus stated.

9. Tercuman, Milli Gazete, Turkiye / Huseyin
Avni Cos, Governor of Bingol, announced
that there are 27 anthrax cases in Bingol
and they are in control of the problem.

10 . Milli Gazete, / Mehmet Altun, Head of
Sanliurfa Corner Shops Association,
announced that before the opening of
Akcakale Border Gate on October 29,
Sanliurfa-Akcakale road should be restored.

11. Cumhuriyet, Turkiye / After the
establishment of the temporary Government
in Iraq there is a significant increase in
the crossing of the vehicles through Habur
Border Gate. About 3000 vehicles a day
cross the border everyday.

CULTURE and TOURISM
12. Turkiye, / Folk Dance Group consisting of
the 42 Istiklal Makzume Anatolia High
School students in Iskenderun were awarded
Olympic Championship in the festival held
in Vewelsburg/Germany, despite dancing in
borrowed costumes due to financial
shortages they had.
HART

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