SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0220 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, AUGUST 20, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for August 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. Bolge / In Adana a big crowd of people, including some parliament members and the mayor of Adana, gathered to mourn on the first anniversary of the 39 people who died in a bus accident on their return from the Haci Bektas Veli ceremonies. ¶3. Bolge / Democrat Turkish Party (DTP) started its election campaign in Adiyaman. Sema Kucuksoz, Head of DTP, addressed the assembled group. ¶4. Turkiye / In Solhan, Bingol Province, Security officials found seven Afghans who had entered Turkey illegally. ¶5. Turkiye / In Araban, Gaziantep Province, Gendarme Forces found some jewellery and coins of historical value and arrested three people for keeping them illegally. ECONOMIC ¶6. Turkiye / In Dicle, Diyarbakir Province 55 people have contracted skin viruses, which take the form of unusually large abscesses, and which are medically described as "leishmania". People get contaminated after being bitten by a special type of mosquito called "Tatarcik". ¶7. Milli Gazete / Kilis, is in quarantine for rabies. Kilis Health Authorities announced that all animals entering and leaving Kilis would be in quarantine for six months. ¶8. Sabah Guney / Immunization vaccine stock, such as Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) in the Southeast region health clinics have been exhausted. About 135 health clinics in Adana cannot implement their normal pediatric immunization programs. Serdar Mercan, Head of the health authorities in Adana, stated that they are considering bids given by pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and will make a decision soon. ¶9. Turkiye / Sanliurfa Hydroelectric Power Station is going to be ready for service by year 2004. 10.Sabah Guney, Evrensel / The State Employees' Union Confederation (KESK) in Adana and Mersin protested the government's financial policy, including non-payment of salary increases. 11.Bolge / Seyfettin Yilmaz, Head of the Adana Forest Ministry announced all personnel are on alert in case of a forest fire. Yilmaz stated that they have enough vehicles and personnel to fight forest fires. ¶12. Bolge, Zaman, Turkiye, Milliyet / Aytac Durak, Mayor of Adana, announced that the municipality has spent about 2 million USD for the preparations of The International Industrial Fair which will be held in Adana between the dates of October 6 and 12. HART