SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0437 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, DECEMBER 30, 2002 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for December 30, 2002. Please note that Turkish press reports often contain errors or exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for the accuracy of the reports summarized here. POLITICS, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS -------------- ¶2. TURKISH MILITARY IN NORTHERN IRAQ (Hurriyet) A caption with a daytime photograph claims Turkish Armed Forces are crossing from Turkey into northern Iraq at dusk. Hurriyet newspaper claims that on December 28, 110 military trucks entered northern Iraq. ¶3. ADIYAMAN SYRIAC CHURCH AGAINST WAR (Evrensel) Peace prayers were said during a worship ceremony held at Adiyaman's Suryani Kadim (Syriac Christian) Congregation. Referring to the tension between the U.S. and Iraq that might turn into a war, Priest Malki Urek said he was against wars no matter where they were and between whom. ¶4. AK PARTY GAZIANTEP OFFICIAL: U.S.' TARGET IS OIL WELLS (Turkiye) Okkes Eruslu, President of the Gaziantep chapter of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), criticized the possible U.S. operation against Iraq. ¶5. PETITION DRIVE IN SANLIURFA (Evrensel) Harran University (Sanliurfa) students launched a petition drive in support of the "I Want My University Student Initiative" campaign by Dicle University (Diyarbakir) students. Signatures to be collected under the petition drive will be submitted to the Parliament. ¶6. RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS PRESIDENCY WORKERS FORCED TO RESIGN (Evrensel) Sihmuslum Azizoglu, President of the Sanliurfa chapter of the Diyanet-Sen Labor Union, claimed the Sanliurfa Mufti's Office forced 50 employees of the Religious Affairs Presidency to resign due to their union-related activities. Mufti Ibrahim Duman said his office would not discriminate among its employees due to their union-related activities, calling the allegations baseless and untrue. ¶7. SECURITY INCIDENTS DOWN 33% IN MALATYA (Turkiye) Malatya Security Director Orhan Savas said public order related incidents have decreased by 33% in 2002, compared to 2001. (No reason specified.) ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS -------------- ¶8. SOUTHEASTERN WOVEN PRODUCT EXPORTS UP OVER 43% (Milli Gazete) According to the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, woven product exports from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region increased 43.4% in the first eleven months of the year, rising to USD 255.5 million from USD 178.1 million for the same period in 2001. Major customers included Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Romania, Uzbekistan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Belgium, Greece, France, the U.S., Algeria, Spain, Iraq, the U.K., Germany and Russia. ¶9. EXPORTS TO IRAQ CANCELLED DUE TO POSSIBLE IRAQ WAR (Turkiye) Giyasettin Demirtas, President of Elazig's Yil-Tas and Keban Plastic Firm, complained about the negative effects of the possible U.S. operation against Iraq. His firm had reportedly suspended exports (pipes and PVC) of USD 100 million. The firm had won an Iraqi contract to construct the proposed 80,000-person Baghdad Stadium and 1,000 homes. HOLTZ