SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0221 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, AUGUST 21, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for August 21, 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 / An unknown person in Adana Province went into the Genc Party building and after arguing with the people, threw a glass at the picture of Cem Uzan on the wall. ¶3. Milli Gazete / A group of about 7-8 people stoned Adnan Darendeliler Primary School in Van Province. ¶4. Zaman / There were two earthquakes of 4.4 and 4.5 in Poturge, Malatya Province. No loss of life reported. ¶5. Milliyet / Channel 33,a local channel in Mersin Province, was prevented from broadcasting a program which criticized the Mayor. Ahmet Ozdemir, the speaker and producer of the program, protested the action on the screen by sticking red tape on his mouth for two minutes. ¶6. Hurriyet, Bolge / Lieutenant General Ayhan Tas is the new Commander of the 6th Corp Command. ¶7. Hurriyet / The court case against the contractors and engineers who built the buildings which collapsed during the May 1 Bingol earthquake has now commenced in Bingol Province. ECONOMIC ¶8. Radikal / There is an increase in anthrax cases in the East and Southeastern regions of Turkey. (Editor's Note: There are about 30 anthrax cases reported in Bingol and Batman area). ¶9. Zaman, Hurriyet, Bolge, Milliyet / Saban Bas, Head of the Adana Chamber of Commerce (ATO),announced that ATO sold 256 stands for the fair in October and there are 64 stands still available. There will be companies from Jordan, Greece, Syria, Romania, and Israel attending the fair. Bas stated that ATO does not regret having the fair in tents this year, and did not answer questions about the earlier criticisms offered by the The Adana Chamber of Industry (ASO). "With the support of all associations and groups we are hoping to organize a perfect fair" Bas added. ¶10. Milliyet / Serka Food Company is employing about 300 cooks and their assistants to cook for the American soldiers in Iraq. (Editor's Note: The cooks were reported to be hired from Incirlik AFB). ¶11. Milli Gazete / A new five star hotel, Malabadi Hotel, is ready for service in Diyarbakir Province. ¶12. Milli Gazete / Hasan Canpolat, Governor of Sivas Province, announced that a new university in Sivas,4 Eylul University, will commence academic instruction in year ¶2005. ¶13. Turkiye, Bolge / Adana's Agricultural Complex (Cukobirlik) is putting its factory building up for rent after the closure on July 7. CULTURE and TOURISM ¶14. Evrensel / Annual Virgin Mary festival was celebrated in Samandag, Antakya Province. People from Germany, France, Lebanon and the USA came to join in the festival. The Armenian Patriarch for Turkey praised the multinational and multicultural visitors of the festival and announced a call for love and peace. ¶15. Hurriyet / Feridun Baloglu, a CHP MP, during a parliament meeting, questioned the Government's non-provision of promised adequate resources to compel the restoration and excavation works of the now flooding Hasankeyf archeological site. REID