SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS ADANA 0255 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, OCTOBER 1, 2003 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for October 1, 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. Zaman / Ramazan Ozunal, head of the Adana District Directors Association, announced after the association's meeting that the district directors want some changes in the local administration law. Ozunal also stated that local districts have serious financial problems. ¶3. Evrensel / Youth branches of the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP),SDP and Free Youth, organized a meeting in front of the Adana Central Post Office protesting against the possible decisions of the present government to "include Turkey in Iraq's occupation". ¶4. Cumhuriyet / An earthquake of 3.9 shook Bingol on September 30 at 20:33. No loss of life or injury has been reported. ¶5. Cumhuriyet / In Payas, Iskenderun, Hatay province, an eight-year-old child was wounded due to an explosion in an area where metal war scraps from Iraq were stored. The police detained the guard at the storage area. ECONOMIC ¶6. Ekspres / Saban Bas, head of the Adana Chamber of Commerce, announced that reorganizing the elections would badly affect the economic situation. Umit Ozgumus, head of the Adana Chamber of Industry, stated that he doesn't consider it a problem if elections were to be repeated. "If it is going to help the exchange rates go up, we would welcome it," Ozgumus reported. ¶7. Zaman / Umit Ozgumus also announced that two businessmen from the Chamber of Industry are going to Iraq to start business arrangements between the two countries. REID