SOUTEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0200 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY JULY 23, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for July 23 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. Milliyet / Yeni Turkiye Party (YTP) celebrated its first anniversary in Adana. Zafer Yegenoglu, the head of YTP in Adana announced that there are big problems ahead of Turkey and recession and inequality are the worst. ¶3. Bolge, Turkiye, Evrensel / Riza Mete, the head of the Adana Doctors' Association announced that SSK Hospitals and doctors are doing their best considering the economical and social factors in mind. Mete also stated that they support the policy of the government to put all state hospitals under the same official description. "This allows the patients under Social Security to choose their hospitals", he added. ¶4. Bolge, Turkiye / Security forces found 45000 root hemp in Sivrice/Elazig. The farmer who owns the land is under police custody. Investigation continues. ¶5. Gunaydin / Community Center in Adana gave service for 8000 people in three years time. In the center children under school age can get music, art and sports education. Women and school age children can also benefit from the services of the center. Eight teachers work in the center as volunteers. The local government pays teachers' lunch and transport expenses. Center welcomes donations. ¶6. Turkiye / In Bingol 21 year old Felek Bulbul committed suicide. In Mardin, Ayten Akkun (19) attempted to commit suicide. Investigations still continue. (Editor's Note: Southeast Turkey has the biggest suicide rate in Turkey) ¶7. Turkiye / In Cizre/Sirnak 21 Kalasnikov rifles were found in a truck. Five people are under police custody for questioning. ¶8. Turkiye / Orhan Uysaloglu is the new Head for National Education in Tarsus. ¶9. Evrensel / Workers in Malatya TEKEL (State Tobacco Factory) are not leaving their factory. The two Korean potential buyers were not allowed in the factory yesterday. (Editor's Note: Government's plan is to privatize TEKEL and workers are against it due to job losses and less payment.) ¶10. Bolge / Some 26 truck drivers were arrested at Habur Border Gate for selling some or all of the American unleaded petrol and helicopter fuel they get from the Incirlik Base in Adana. Truck drivers were supposed to transport the petrol and fuel to Iraq. ECONOMICAL ¶11. Radikal, Evrensel, Sabah / Hasankeyf in Batman is going to be restored. With its 6000 caves and historical value, which go back to Assyrians, it is almost like an open-air museum. Efkan Ala, Governor of Batman stated that a new project is about to start and it is supported by the Prime Minister himself. ¶12. Milliyet / Saban Bas, The Head of the Adana Chamber of Commerce continues his visits to get support for the Industrial and Commercial Fair which will take place in Adana between October 6-12. Bas visited Tarsus Chamber of Industry and Chamber of Commerce yesterday. HART