SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR 07/06, 2005

UNCLAS ADANA 000137 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR 07/06, 2005 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for 07/06, ¶2005. 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. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Berc Kartun, the headmen of Vakifli village where Armenians live in Hatay, condemned Armenian genocide allegations and said that Armenians have been living peacefully and in secure conditions in Turkey since Ottoman times. ¶3. SABAH (GUNEY): Hatay commemorated the 67th anniversary of Turkish troops' gaining control of the Hatay province. ¶4. EKSPRES: A bomb placed in front of a branch of HSBC bank in Adana exploded at around 4 a.m. There was no loss of life, injury or damage to property. The police are currently trying to investigate the bomb incident. ¶5. BOLGE/EKSPRES: Following a half-day strike of Turk Telekom (State Telecommunications Company) employees in Adana, Asaf Guzelce, Chairperson of the Turk Haber-Is (Turkish Communication Workers' Union) Chapter in Adana, said that that the employees of Turk Telekom are suffering from the implementations adopted in the course of the company's privatization process. Guzelce said that the practice of subcontractors tendering for the significant services rendered by the company would lead to incompatibilities with the Work Act and would undermine unionist efforts. ¶6. OZGUR GUNDEM: Ridvan Kizgin, Chairperson of the Bingol Human Rights Association (HRA),alleged that the attack on the HRA building during the funeral of five security guards on June 3 (see press summary 07/05) could have been easily detected and prevented because security officials had already heightened security measures that day. ¶7. OZGUR GUNDEM: Minister of Interior Affairs Abdulkadir Aksu announced that, among nearly 360,00 villagers who left their villages due to terror related issues in the southeastern region, nearly 125,000 have returned. Aksu demanded that Governors facilitate the return of people to areas where security issues are resolved, include NGOs in the meetings to achieve transparency, and ease the process of NGOs' participation and taking active roles in the project implementations. ¶8. HTTP://HABER.TNN.NET: Anthrax was diagnosed in eight people in the Cukurca village of Hakkari. The Cukurca village is currently under quarantine and officials are not allowing any animal in or out of the village. Health officials conducting medical examinations in the village have not diagnosed anthrax in other villagers. ¶9. RADIKAL/OZGUR GUNDEM: N.K., an eighteen-year-old girl, who was wounded on June 15 when her brother-in-law attempted to kill her in the name of honor in Diyarbakir, was released from the hospital and provided lodging in a Women's Shelter House. ¶10. HURRIYET: French Ambassador to Turkey, Paul Paudade, paid a visit to the Sanliurfa Governor. Paudade said that Sanliurfa had outstanding tourism potential and great achievements in the area have been made in terms of agriculture. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ¶1. EKSPRES/BOLGE: Producers of corn are worried that the TMO (Turkish Grain Board) may impose a 30-ton-quota on its corn purchases from farmers. The TMO had already declared this quota for its wheat purchases.