SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0081

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
MARCH 18, 2003


1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for March 18, 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.



2. FIRST IMMIGRANT WAVE TO TURKISH BORDER
(Sabah/Hurriyet/Milliyet) Migration from Kerkuk
and Mosul has begun. During the migration
convoys of 15 to 20 kilimeters formed.
Approximately 10,000 people are heading towards
the villages of Amadiya, Sersing, Batufa and
Begova that are across from the Turkish town
Hakkari.



3. RESIDENTS IN KIZILTEPE REACT
(Milli Gazete) The residents of Kiziltepe
village reacted to Americans wanting to rent the
state hospital. A delegation of eight Americans
visited the hospital and gathered information
concerning the capacity of the hospital. It is
reported that residents are worried that the
hospital will no longer be able to serve them in
case the hospital also serves Americans.



4. U.S. ESTABLISHES SECOND BASE IN NUSAYBIN
(Milli Gazete/Evrensel/Dunya) While preparations
continue in Mardin and Kiziltepe, the U.S. is now
preparing the Organized Industrial Zone in
Nusaybin as a second "base". It is reported that
the Zone is expected to be completed by March 23.
The zone is a very large area, the equivalent of
roughly six city blocks, and will include a
helicopter landing area. A group of Americans
also visited the Nusaybin train station and
gathered information from officials.


5.NEVRUZ PREPARATIONS
(Evrensel/Bolge/Cumhuriyet) Nevruz preparations
continue across the country. The DEHAP
provincial organization in Urfa held a press
conference at the Harran Hotel and announced
celebrations will take place at the local
fairgrounds. In Tunceli, EMEP and DEHAP applied
to the governorate for permission to celebrate
Nevruz on March 21 at the town center. Despite
the call from the Diyarbakir governorate to have
mutual celebrations, the civilian and official
activities will be held separately again this
year. The Nevruz organization committee's
request to include Kurdish music in the
celebrations was turned down; consequently DEHAP,
after getting support from non-governmental
organizations, decided to have a separate
celebration in Diyarbakir.



6. MARDIN WORRIED AND HELPLESS
(Evrensel) Residents in Mardin, which is filled
with U.S. soldiers, are worried and helpless.
Due to the closing of the Habur border gate, the
oil trucks are sitting idle in front of their
owners' homes, and ever since the region has
become the site for locating U.S. bases the
economy has come to a halt. Workers have lost
jobs, and those who are hired by American firms
to work in construction are working at minimum
wages.



7. PRESS CENTER IN MARDIN
(Turkiye) In Diyarbakir, a press center has been
established under the governorate where
journalists receive accreditation cards and
bullet proof vests. The press center is located
at the first floor of Dedeman hotel.

8. AMERICANS ARE WEARING BULLET PROOF VESTS
(Radikal) The U.S. has deployed 1000 military
vehicles in Mardin, which has become the most
important logistic base for the U.S. American
soldiers have began wearing bulletproof vests in
the past two days, which they continue to wear
during heavy work. This is interpreted as a sign
that the possible war is close. The number of
military vehicles that have arrived from
Iskenderun by railway to the Mardin rope factory
has increased.
HOLTZ