VZCZCXRO8925
RR RUEHDA
DE RUEHDA #0108/01 2600554
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170554Z SEP 07
FM AMCONSUL ADANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4602
INFO RUEUITH/AFOSI DET 521 ANKARA TU
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1147
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0994
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT MEADE MD
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1205
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000108
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 13 AND 14,
2007.
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for
September 13 and 14, 2007. Please note Turkish press reports
often contain errors or exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does
not vouch for the accuracy of the reports summarized here.
POLITICAL:
2. RADIKAL / BOLGE / EVRENSEL / ZAMAN / HURRIYET: President
Abdullah Gul conducted the first official visit of his term to
southeastern Turkey. Following his travel to Van, Gul arrived
in Hakkari province's Siirt where he was welcomed by an
enthusiastic crowd. Zaman daily reported the visit to the
province was the first by a Turkish president in 25 years. In
Siirt, Gul called on the Governor and provincial NGOs. Gul
reportedly forget he was fasting for Ramazan and drank a glass
of water. Evrensel daily quotes Hakkari Bar Association
Chairman Nevzat Anuk as telling Gul the issues in the region
were all linked to the Kurdish issue. Anuk told reporters
President Gul did not made any single comment on what he said
and remained silent and taking notes. Gul did not invite local
DTP administrators, administrators of Human Rights Association,
or KESK (Confederation of Public Employee Unions) leaders to the
meeting held with local figures at the Governor's Office. Gul
later flew to Sirnak in a military helicopter and landed in the
23rd Jandarma Border Division Command to chat with soldiers on
duty. Gul's last stop in his trip in the region will be
Diyarbakir today. Representatives of nearly 30 civil society
organizations in Diyarbakir, including GUNSIAD (South-eastern
Businessmen Association) and KAMER (Women's Center), will come
together to convey the common issues of concern in the province.
Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir, who said they would be pleased
to see the president in Diyarbakir, hoped that they would be
able to give Gul a report generated by the Municipality.
3. SABAH (GUNEY): A U.S. delegation headed by Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Colleen
Graffy called on the Deputy Governor of Mersin reports the
September-13 edition of the daily. Deputy Mayor Ertan briefed
Dr. Graffy about Mersin and the issues of importance in the
province. Dr. Graffy expressed sincere American appreciation
for Mersin's support during the evacuation of U.S. nationals
from Lebanon following Israel's offensive in early summer in
2006.
4. RADIKAL: On the 1996 case of a military captain fatally
beating a shop owner in Diyarbakir's Cermisk district, the
European Court of Human Rights decreed that fair prosecution
process was not observed, a person's right to life was
transgressed, and torture was tolerated; the Court fined Turkey
in the amount of 30,000 Euros.
SECURITY
5. HURRIYET / YENI SAFAK: Three village guards were wounded
when a PKK mine exploded during a night patrol in Siirt's Eruh
district. Separately, in Bingol's Genc district, in clashes
with PKK terrorists three security guards were wounded.
6. ZAMAN / CUMHURIYET: A commissioned officer died when a
military vehicle had an accident in a village of Agri. Four
soldiers were wounded in the accident.
7. HURRIYET: Four PKK members were killed in clashes in
rural areas of Siirt. Security personnel separately found a
PKK shelter in Siirt's Pervari district where 12 Kalashnikov
guns and ammunition were stored. (This summary is from September
13 edition.)
CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT
8. SABAH (GUNEY): Marine Forces Command staged a live
environmental disaster exercise off the port of Mersin. The
exercise aimed to strengthen coordination between military and
civilian forces to better respond to sea-based environmental
disasters.
9. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA) / ZAMAN: Malatya and Sanliurfa
Municipalities set up tents in several locations of the two
provinces to provide iftaar dinner to nearly 1500 people every
day in two provinces.
10. BOLGE: The community of the Antakya Christian
Orthodox Church issued a celebratory statement in honor of the
ADANA 00000108 002 OF 002
2007.
month of Ramadan on a banner hung in the city center.
GREEN