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