SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS ADANA 0139 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, MAY 20, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for May 20, 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. Radikal/Milliyet: The police and jandarma have been alerted to arrest seven contractors of the buildings that collapsed and killed many people during the earthquake in Bingol on May 1. Pictures of the wanted contractors have been distributed to the security officials, and a warrant of arrest has been issued for the contractors. Hurriyet reports that under the "Do not let our schools collapse" campaign initiated by Hurriyet Paper and Channel-D, a delegation of eight experts from Middle East Technical University started examining the schools in Bingol by taking samples of concrete for analyzing in their labs in Ankara. ¶3. Milli Gazete: The earthquake victims in Bingol are afraid to go into their damaged houses. Three families are staying in one tent in Bingol's Asagikoy village with 81 houses, 500 inhabitants. The villagers were afraid to go into their houses because of aftershocks, and only 25 tents have been issued to their village with 81 houses. The village headman, Abdulkerim Boztimur, said 20 persons were staying in one tent and asked for more tents rather than any relief material or foodstuff. Bingol Governor, Huseyin Avni Cos, announced that they delivered 13 thousand tents and 400 tons of foodstuffs in Bingol to date. ¶4. Milliyet: According to the State Statistic Institute (SSI),there is 9 percent unemployment rate throughout Turkey, but 17 percent in Batman, and 15 percent in Osmaniye and Sanliurfa. While 8 percent in Istanbul and 16 percent in Ankara of the employed population are engaged in agricultural sector, this ratio is 83 percent in Mus and 78 in Ardahan. While 64 percent of employees work in service sectors in Ankara, only 13 percent are employed in this sector in Mus. While 32 percent of the employed persons are hired in the industrial sectors in Istanbul, this ratio is only one percent in Ardahan, Hakkari, Bingol and Agri provinces. ¶5. Evrensel: The 3rd Cultural and Art Festival sponsored by Diyarbakir Municipality will be held between May 23- June 01 with a concert by Borusan's Philharmonic Orchestra at the historical walls of Diyarbakir. Many Turkish and Kurdish singers are expected to attend the festival. HOLTZ