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