SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS ADANA 0033

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY
FEBRUARY 20, 2004



1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary
for February 20, 2004. 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 / Cukurova University Rector Yalcin Kekec
stated at a conference, organized by U.S
Embassy Ankara and the university's Foreign
Language Center, that learning a foreign


language is a must to benefit from the riches
of other cultures. Embassy's English language
Officer Thomas Miller and Adana U.S Consulate
staff also attended the opening ceremony of the
conference.



3. Turkiye, Cumhuriyet, Milliyet / Sikorsky type
military helicopter transferring two sick
soldiers from Yedisu Jandarma Station in Bingol
to Bingol province, had an accident around
Adakli, close to Bingol. Five soldiers died
during the accident. Investigation about the
accident continues.



4. Ozgur Gundem / Bilal Memeli applied to the
Human Rights Organization in Adiyaman to file a
complaint because he wasn't allowed to change
his name to a Kurdish name and was threatened
by the soldiers for that reason.



5. Ozgur Gundem / In Sirnak, women protested the
prison conditions of Abdullah Ocalan by
parading and making bonfires.
REID