SOUTEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0201 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY JULY 24, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for July 24, 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. Gunaydin / Red Cross in Adana needs blood donations. Dr. B. Kolfal, the head of the Red Cross in Adana announced that they have only two units of blood left in their storage. With the heat of the summer most people went to the mountains and to the beach and there are no blood donors left in the city, Kolfal stated. ¶3. Gunaydin, Turkiye, Bolge / Pharmacists in Adana walked to AKP building and visited the head of AKP, Abdullah Dogru. Pharmacists stated that the government owns them about 5 million dollars and it hasn't been paying that for 143 days. Some 35 pharmacies have closed down due to their unpaid bills. (Editor's Note: Government is supposed to pay %80 of the cost of the patients' medication bill direct to the pharmacies). ¶4. Gunaydin, Turkiye, Bolge / Cumali Kizilkoca who did the grenade attack to the American Consulate in Adana said he did it to raise the voice of the Muslims in the world. Kizilkoca is sent to the mental hospital in Adana for a check-up. ¶5. Milliyet, Bolge / During the first anniversary celebrations the head of the Yeni Turkiye Partisi (YTP) in Adana, Zafer Yegenoglu announced that they want to see the left wing parties to get together under the same name. ¶6. Turkiye, Bolge / Security officials found about $150,000 worth of statues and coins of historical value in Mersin. ¶7. Evrensel / Phillip Moris visitors, potential buyers for Malatya TEKEL factory were not allowed in by the factory workers. Before that workers had not allowed two Korean potential buyers in. ¶8. Evrensel / Human Rights Organization Committee that was investigating the death of the 5 villagers in Yumakli/Bingol ended their investigations and soon they will announce their report. ECONOMICAL ¶9. Turkiye / Saban Bas, the head of the Chamber of Commerce in Adana visited Nejat Kocer, the head of the Chamber of Industry in Gaziantep. They announced that businessmen in the region should adapt themselves to the new picture of Turkey and should not be scared of new investments. HART