TIP IN TURKEY: MEDIA ATTENTION, SEPTEMBER 1-15,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ANKARA 005205 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, EUR/PGI, EUR/SE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREF TU TIP IN TURKEY SUBJECT: TIP IN TURKEY: MEDIA ATTENTION, SEPTEMBER 1-15, 2004 ¶1. (U) In response to G/TIP inquiries about anti-TIP public information campaigns, post provides as examples the following TIP press reports. Text of articles originally published in Turkish is provided through unofficial local FSN translation. ¶2. (U) Published September 10, 2004 by Turkish language Yeniden Ozgur Gundem; also published on Turkish Women's Advocacy Group Flying Broom website http://www.ucansupurge.org/newhtml/130804/130 804turkiyeden.p hp: (Note: Emboff confirmed that this article incorrectly references IOM as the source of the report. The correct source is the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, not/not IOM. END NOTE.) TITLE: IOM: Turkey is a Center for Prostitution BEGIN TEXT: The IOM reported that Turkey has become a central base for women trafficking and prostitution. According to a study by the IOM, around 3000-4000 women from eastern European countries and mostly from the Moldova, Georgia and the Ukraine, were deported each year. The report stressed that irregular migration movements increased with globalization and that this created a suitable atmosphere for human trafficking, mainly women trafficking. The report noted that migration from eastern European countries, which faced severe economic crisis, high inflation and mass unemployment at the end of 1980s, has increased toward Turkey. Unemployed but well- educated women were on the top of the list. The report went on saying that Turkey has been putting emphasis on tourism in order to increase its foreign exchange reserves since 1960s and pursuing a liberal border policy. Thus it became a lucrative center for those who migrated. The report said, "Increasing number of immigrants with different characteristics as been entering Turkey as tourists." The percentage of the Russian women who were deported for carrying VD is lowest among the others. The IOM noted that those foreign women who were forced into prostitution in Turkey were either divorced or single coming from negative family backgrounds in villages or rural areas. END TEXT. ¶3. (U) Published September 10, 2004 in the Pakistan Daily Times: 
 TITLE: Two Pakistani immigrants arrested BEGIN TEXT: ZAGREB: The Croatian police arrested two illegal Pakistani immigrants, suspected of human trafficking near the Croatian border with Slovenia, on Wednesday. The police arrested a total of 18 immigrants. Two of them belonged to Pakistan while 14 were from Turkey and two from China. The Chinese immigrants were caught near Varazdin in the north of the country, said the police. They were trying to enter Slovenia when the Croatian police arrested them. A 41-year-old immigrant was injured when he tried to resist. A police officer was also injured in the encounter. The illegal immigrants were going to Germany, Austria and Italy via Slovenia. END TEXT. ¶4. (U) Published September 10, 2004 in the Pakistan Daily Times: TITLE: 58 arrested on border with Iran BEGIN TEXT: CHAGHAI: Chagai Levies have arrested 58 people for crossing the Pakistani border with Iran at Zero Point Taftan illegally, local administration in Taftan said on Wednesday. They were trying to enter Iran to proceed further to Europe via Turkey and Greece in search of jobs. END TEXT. ¶5. (U) Published September 7, 2004 by the International Office for Migration: TITLE: GEORGIA - IOM Assists Uzbek Victims of Trafficking to Return Home - BEGIN TEXT: This past weekend the IOM offices in Azerbaijan and Georgia assisted the last two persons of a group of 14 victims of trafficking to return to their homes in Uzbekistan. In May and June seven women, residents of Uzbekistan were taken on various flights from Tashkent to Tbilisi with the promise of attractive employment in Georgia. Upon arrival in Georgia's capital, they were locked up in an apartment and told that instead of working in Georgia they would be taken to Dubai to work there as prostitutes. The women were kept in the apartment until 22 June when two managed to escape and informed the police who rescued the rest of the women and arrested the traffickers. IOM's involvement began after the women's release from captivity, first by referring them to the shelter, establishing the profile of the women, providing support to the shelter, providing medical assistance to the victims, and finally assistance to return and reintegrate in the countries of origin. Whilst most women returned to their homes soon after they were released, the two women who returned home last weekend were kept two and a half months in the police shelter because they did not have proper travel documentation. Without prospective to be returned soon and tired of waiting they escaped from the shelter to face the risks of irregular migration again. They slipped through the border of Azerbaijan using forged passports and turned to their diplomatic representation in Baku. On the request of the Embassy of Uzbekistan, IOM Baku ensured the secure stay and final return home of the victims, in coordination with IOM Tbilisi and IOM partners in Tashkent. Research conducted by IOM in the Southern Caucasian countries confirmed that Azerbaijan and Georgia are primarily source countries of victims of trafficking, who are lured with attractive promises to work in countries such as Turkey, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, the United States and a number of Western European countries, only to end up being exploited there by traffickers. Azerbaijan and Georgia are also used by traffickers for transit of women, mainly from Central Asian countries, to serve in the United Arab Emirates and other destination countries. IOM Missions in the Southern Caucasus are assisting the local authorities to prevent trafficking in persons, protect and assist victims of trafficking and prosecute traffickers. END TEXT. ¶6. (U) Published September 7, 2004 by Turkey's Anatolian News Agency: TITLE: Palestinian Interior Minister Visits Aksu BEGIN TEXT: ANKARA - Palestinian Interior Minister Hakam Balawi, currently in Ankara, met Turkish Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu on Tuesday. After the meeting Aksu said that "there is an urgent need for international cooperation to fight international organized crime networks." Turkish and Palestinian delegations would discuss fight against international terrorism, drug smuggling, human trafficking, organized crimes and illegal migration and cooperation between security organizations of the two countries, Aksu noted. On the other hand, Balawi conveyed a message from Palestinian President Yasser ARAFAT wishing well to Turkish prime minister and people. Stating that Turkey and Palestine would sign a memorandum of understanding, Balawi noted that they would do their best to meet its requirements. Balawi said that there were very good relations between Turkey and Palestine, recalling that Turkey was the first country which recognized Palestine. Stating that there was terrorism organized by Israel in Palestine, Balawi said that terrorism continued killing people in his country. Balawi underlined that Turkey, which knew the situation of Palestine, was supporting them on this issue. END TEXT. ¶7. (U) Published September 5, 2004 by Turkey's Anatolian News Agency: TITLE: Aksu: Importance Of International Cooperation In Fight Against Terrorism Is Understood BEGIN TEXT: ABANT - Turkish Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said, "the recent terrorist act in Russia has showed the importance of international cooperation in fight against terrorism." Aksu told reporters on Saturday that it is impossible not to curse terrorist act in Russia. Stressing that the global dimension of terrorism has emerged one more time in the recent terrorist act in Russia, Aksu said, 'the importance of international cooperation in fight against terrorism is understood. We have defended cooperation in fight against terrorism for years. World saw the real face of terrorism after September 11 attacks in the United States.' Aksu said, "we will further focus on the training of hostage rescue teams which has a special importance in fight against terrorism and we will send special operation teams under Security Directorate General to foreign countries for training if necessary." Aksu said that Turkey has signed cooperation agreements with 48 different countries against international terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and human smuggling. Aksu said that Turkey has made important progress against violation of human rights. Noting that by the time he started his term in office, he formed a desk for prevention of torture and violation of human rights, Aksu said European countries, which were screening Turkey due to torture and violation of human rights in the past, now ended this process. END TEXT. ¶8. (U) Published September 5, 2004 by Turkey's Anatolian News Agency: ANKARA - NATO Parliamentary Assembly will come to Turkey under its annual working visit. Turkish Parliament Press Office released a written statement on Saturday and said that a delegation, which will be comprised of 23 officials from parliaments of NATO countries and 10 officials from staff of Secretariat General of the Assembly, will come to Turkey on September 6. The delegation will be headed by NATO Parliamentary Assembly Turkish Group Chairman Vahit Erdem. The delegation will be briefed in Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry and National Defense Ministry. Officials will discuss Iraq-Afghanistan and Turkey- Russia relations, political and military situation, Turkish defense industry and international cooperation, terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and human smuggling. The delegation will also meet Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. The delegation which will visit Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP) region and Nevsehir region will depart from Turkey on September 12. END TEXT. ¶9. (U) Published September 1, 2004 by the Southeastern Eurpoean Times: TITLE: Economic Plights Drive Prostitution in Turkey BEGIN TEXT: Increasing jobs and services would reduce the number of women who are driven to prostitution, said Ankara Chamber of Commerce Chairman Sinan Aygun. [AFP] By Fatih Baran for Southeast European Times in Istanbul - 27/08/04 Though prostitution is legal in Turkey, most of the women working in the industry are not registered and many are forced to ply their trade against their will, according to a new study conducted by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO). The research found that prostitution is spreading in Turkey due to economic troubles. The study estimated there are as many as 100,000 prostitutes in Turkey, 30,000 of whom are waiting to obtain licenses. One out of every 350 women is at risk of prostitution or sexual abuse. Fifty-six brothels are in operation, employing 3,000 women; an additional 15,000 prostitutes are registered with the police. Many are unable to gain employment in a registered brothel and end up working on the streets, researchers said. In the southeastern province of Diyakbakir alone, an estimated 6,000 women are working illegally as prostitutes, according to the study. Istanbul has at least 500 underage sex workers, including girls as young as 12 years old. Furthermore, researchers noted, there has been an influx of sex workers from Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. "There is an annual turnover of around 3 billion euros in the prostitution sector. And brothel keepers, barpersons, nightclubs, hotel owners and taxi drivers all get a slice of the cake. That is to say, hundreds of thousands of people earn a living by prostitution," the report said. END TEXT. Source description: The Southeast European Times Web site is a central source of news and information about Southeastern Europe in nine languages: Albanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, English, Greek, Macedonian, Romanian, Serbian Latin, Serbian Cyrillic and Turkish. The goal of the Southeast European Times is to offer accurate, balanced and forward-looking coverage of developments in Southeast Europe. Each business day, the site captures the top news from across the region as reported in local and international media. It also features analysis, interviews and commentary by Southeast European Times correspondents in the region. The Southeast European Times coverage is distinguished by an in-depth knowledge of local issues - the key players, events and sensitivities that can trigger significant developments - tempered by a cross- regional perspective. It identifies trends, solutions and successes that can serve as models for progress throughout the region. The Southeast European Times is sponsored by the US European Command, the joint military command responsible for US operations in Southeast Europe and elsewhere. EUCOM oversees participation of US troops in NATO's peacekeeping forces in Kosovo (KFOR),Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR) and Macedonia. EUCOM is committed to promoting stability, co- operation and prosperity in the region. EDELMAN