SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY

UNCLAS ADANA 0005 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY JANUARY 07, 2004 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for January 07, 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. Ozgur Gundem / In Mus Prison, soldiers reportedly ink-stamped "terror" on the wrists of the political prisoners' visitors during open visits. (Editor's Note: open visits are the visits in which the prisoner's relatives can go in and see the prisoners face to face. ¶3. Ozgur Gundem, Ekspres / Adana Prisoners' Relatives Help and Support Association gathered in front of Kurkculer Prison and protested against the transfer of resident prisoners to F and D-type prisons. ¶4. Ekspres, Yeni safak / Melih Baki, head of the Adana Geophysics Engineers' Association, announced that 18 earthquakes between 2.8 and 3.6 were reported in the Eastern Mediterranean region in December 2003, and stated this could be the sign of a big earthquake in the region in the near future. ¶5. Yeni Safak, Sabah / A 4.8 richter scale earthquake shook Malatya on January 6 at 12:39. No loss of life has been reported. ECONOMIC ¶6. Milli Gazete / Ahmet Bahcivan, Sanliurfa Mayor, announced that an Iraqi businessman wanted to purchase drinking water from Sanliurfa. Bahcivan stated that his municipality wanted to trade water for petrol. ¶7. Hurriyet Cukurova / The Adana Chamber of Commerce started a new section named "European Information Center" (Euro Info Center). The official opening of the center will be on January 14 at Adana Hilton Hotel. REID