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 000176
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR DECEMBER 22, 2004
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for December
22, 2004. 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. OZGUR GUNDEM: Experts say special medication for the
treatment of rabies for the patients with severe bites on their
heads is not available in Turkey and will be brought from Iran.
Six-year-old Burhan Ates is allegedly still waiting for the
arrival of the medication. According to Sevket Can, Director of
the Environmental Research Center at Yuzuncu Yil University, it
is abnormal for wolves to approach human settlements and attack
people. Ozgur Gundem claims that 40 villages were evacuated
between 1990-1996 in Yuksekova and Semdinli area. Since then,
the instances of wolves approaching settlements have increased.
3. MILLIYET / ZAMAN / HURRIYET / MILLI GAZETE / VAKIT /
ZAMAN: Burhan Ates, who was attacked by wolves in
Yuksekova, Hakkari, received special medication against rabies.
Rustem Zeydan, Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health,
brought over 8 bottles of medication to health officials. Zeydan
said that the news about lack of medication in Turkey is false.
4. TURKIYE /MILLIYET / ZAMAN / HURRIYET / MILLI GAZETE /
VAKIT / ZAMAN: Yesterday evening 7 wolves were seen on the
campus of Sivas Cumhuriyet University in Sivas. One of the
wolves was killed by a Kangal dog, which was released in the
campus to guard against wolves. (Note. The Kangal dog is a
famous breed from the Kangal District of Turkey and is generally
used for shepherding flocks. End Note.)
5. OZGUR GUNDEM: Abdurrezzak Gok cannot get an identity
card because he is recorded as being dead in the records of the
state. As a result of a conflict in Siirt on September 21, 1989,
nine guerillas died. After that incident, the police in Siirt
forced the father of Gok to sign a statement saying that his son
died during the conflict. Gok was recorded as dead in the state
records then. One month after the conflict, Gok was (allegedly)
taken into custody, tried at Diyarbakir State Security Court,
and sentenced to life in prison for being a member of and
participating in the activities of the PKK. After serving 15
years of that sentence, Gok was released on October 14, 2004.
However, he is not able to get an identity card since the state
records say that he died on September 21, 1989.
6. MILLIYET: Alicia Allison, Vice Consul at the U.S.
Consulate in Adana, visited Gundogdu Private School and wished a
happy new year to the students. The kids sang songs together
with Ms. Allison. Then, Ms. Allison read an English story and
she gave some candycanes to the children.
7. YENI SAFAK: The air pollution in Diyarbakir is at levels
beyond acceptable limits and the current situation has very
serious and hazardous health consequences. Diyarbakir ranks
first in Turkey with its high air pollution levels.
8. YENI SAFAK: Villages that were without water in Gaziantep
were provided water as a result of the efforts undertaken by the
Provincial Directorate of Village Services in Gaziantep. Six
litres of potable water per second is obtained from the artesian
wells that were dug and this water is transferred via a 24 km
water pipeline that extends to 3 villages.
9. OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL: Diyarbakir Municipality
inspected the standard of coal in various places and seized 8
tons of sub-standard coal at the end of the inspections.
10. EVRENSEL: The case of the (alleged) extra judicial
killing of Siar Perincek in Adana by the anti-terror branch in
May 28, 2004, has been postponed to February 8, 2005 despite the
intervening attorneys pointing out that there are (allegedly)
efforts to conceal the evidences.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
1. BOLGE / EKSPRES / HURRIYET / TURKIYE / MILLIYET: The Adana
Provincial Directorate of Agriculture delivered olive seedlings
to people. Cahit Kirac, Adana Governor, pointed out there is an
increase on the world`s production and consumption of olive and
olive oil. Therefore, olive production should be increased in
Cukurova.
2. EKSPRES: Despite the ongoing war in Iraq, the
businessmen of Turkey are not afraid to conduct business with
Iraq. The exports volume to Iraq has increased substantially.
Due to the lack of sound banking services in the region, money
is transferred via bags and suitcases.
3. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Abdulkadir Konukoglu, President of
the Assembly of the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce, Nejat Kocer,
Executive Board President of the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce
and Mehmet Aslan, President of the Gaziantep Chamber of
Industry, as well as some businessmen will accompany President
Erdogan on his visit to Syria.
4. HURRIYET / TURKIYE / SABAH (GUNEY): Abdelkbir Zahoud,
Morroco's Minister of Water and Irrigation, is visiting Turkey
to make observations of the GAP region. The visit of the
Minister and his delegation started at Gaziantep.
5. MILLI GAZETE: The volume of trade in free trade zones
all over Turkey has increased by 37% in the last 11 months (as
compared to the previous year) and reached 19.8 billion of
dollars.