Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ADANA35
2005-02-23 08:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Adana
Cable title:
SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 22, 2005
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ADANA 000035
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 22, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for February 22,
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
ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM / MILLIYET / HURRIYET / YENI SAFAK /
EVRENSEL / SABAH: The trial of four special operations team
members, who were allegedly involved in the deaths of Ugur and
Ahmet Kaymaz in November, started at the Mardin 2nd Penalty
Court. Considering the security reasons and because of the fact
that they are on duty, since as they have been reassigned to
their posts in other cities, the team members stated that they
would not attend the court hearing and requested from the court
to submit their statements in writing. The security of the court
hearing was maintained by 2000 police officers. Some of the
Turkish Parliament's Human Rights Commission members, the leader
of DEHAP, Tuncer Bakirhan, European Parliament member, Feleknaz
Uca, and NGOs were present to watch the proceedings as well. A
500-person group gathered in front of the Office of the Governor
and shouted slogans in favor of Abdullah Ocalan.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The tent-settlements (or -camps) that were set
up after the earthquake hit Hakkari will be abolished and the
tents will be reestablished at individual locations close to the
buildings in which people face the severe risk of collapse.
Removal of the tent camps disturbed some of the tent dwellers,
who are especially fearful of the cracks caused by the quake in
their houses. However, other people experiencing severe building
damage welcomed the idea.
BOLGE / OZGUR GUNDEM: The intensity of the hostilities in
Mersin have reportedly not decreased since Umit Gonultas was
shot dead during the Feb 15 demonstrations that aimed to protest
Ocalan's capture by Turkey six years ago. The riot police have
blockaded various streets in the province since then, (according
to Ozgur Gundem). DEHAP Provincial Youth Branches protested in
front of the Mersin Department of Justice the shooting of
Gonultas and demanded that the killers of Gonultas be found.
RADIKAL: The number of patients with pneumonia and bronchitis
has increased by 120 percent in Tatvan in Bitlis province. The
Chief Doctor of Tatvan Birth and Child Care Hospital reported
that between January 1 and February 10, 2,773 children with
respiratory inflammations, pneumonia and bronchitis have been
brought to the hospital for treatment.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
UNCLAS ADANA 000035
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 22, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for February 22,
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
ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM / MILLIYET / HURRIYET / YENI SAFAK /
EVRENSEL / SABAH: The trial of four special operations team
members, who were allegedly involved in the deaths of Ugur and
Ahmet Kaymaz in November, started at the Mardin 2nd Penalty
Court. Considering the security reasons and because of the fact
that they are on duty, since as they have been reassigned to
their posts in other cities, the team members stated that they
would not attend the court hearing and requested from the court
to submit their statements in writing. The security of the court
hearing was maintained by 2000 police officers. Some of the
Turkish Parliament's Human Rights Commission members, the leader
of DEHAP, Tuncer Bakirhan, European Parliament member, Feleknaz
Uca, and NGOs were present to watch the proceedings as well. A
500-person group gathered in front of the Office of the Governor
and shouted slogans in favor of Abdullah Ocalan.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The tent-settlements (or -camps) that were set
up after the earthquake hit Hakkari will be abolished and the
tents will be reestablished at individual locations close to the
buildings in which people face the severe risk of collapse.
Removal of the tent camps disturbed some of the tent dwellers,
who are especially fearful of the cracks caused by the quake in
their houses. However, other people experiencing severe building
damage welcomed the idea.
BOLGE / OZGUR GUNDEM: The intensity of the hostilities in
Mersin have reportedly not decreased since Umit Gonultas was
shot dead during the Feb 15 demonstrations that aimed to protest
Ocalan's capture by Turkey six years ago. The riot police have
blockaded various streets in the province since then, (according
to Ozgur Gundem). DEHAP Provincial Youth Branches protested in
front of the Mersin Department of Justice the shooting of
Gonultas and demanded that the killers of Gonultas be found.
RADIKAL: The number of patients with pneumonia and bronchitis
has increased by 120 percent in Tatvan in Bitlis province. The
Chief Doctor of Tatvan Birth and Child Care Hospital reported
that between January 1 and February 10, 2,773 children with
respiratory inflammations, pneumonia and bronchitis have been
brought to the hospital for treatment.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
1. MILLIYET / EKSPRES / BOLGE / ZAMAN / TURKIYE: Adana
Chamber of Commerce will open the East Mediterranean Foreign
Trade Center today to foster the international relationships of
Cukurova Region's SMEs. Among the undertakings of the Center are
providing advisory services to the SMEs with regard to national
and international fairs and promoting the export opportunities
available within the (Cukurova) region.
2. SABAH (GUNEY): Saban Bas, Chairperson of the Adana
Chamber of Commerce, expressed that the 1st Economic Cooperation
Forum of Adana turned out to be a very fruitful event. According
to Bas, the Forum's achievements beneficial to Adana's economy
were the business ties established with the participant foreign
businessmen, which are worth billions of dollars and the
opportunity to discuss the economic problems of Adana with PM
Erdogan.
3. SABAH (GUNEY): During their meeting with PM Erdogan and
the State Minister Kursat Tuzmen, Abdulkadir Konukoglu, Assembly
Chairperson of the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry, Nejat Kocer,
Chairperson of the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry and Mehmet
Aslan, Chairperson of the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce,
submitted an alternative incentive program scheme to Erdogan.
Mehmet Aslan reportedly pointed out to the grave fact that
entrepreneurs are withdrawing their investment plans in
Gaziantep and being attracted by Syria, such as (oppotunuities
in) Aleppo.
REID
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 22, 2005
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for February 22,
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
ZAMAN / OZGUR GUNDEM / MILLIYET / HURRIYET / YENI SAFAK /
EVRENSEL / SABAH: The trial of four special operations team
members, who were allegedly involved in the deaths of Ugur and
Ahmet Kaymaz in November, started at the Mardin 2nd Penalty
Court. Considering the security reasons and because of the fact
that they are on duty, since as they have been reassigned to
their posts in other cities, the team members stated that they
would not attend the court hearing and requested from the court
to submit their statements in writing. The security of the court
hearing was maintained by 2000 police officers. Some of the
Turkish Parliament's Human Rights Commission members, the leader
of DEHAP, Tuncer Bakirhan, European Parliament member, Feleknaz
Uca, and NGOs were present to watch the proceedings as well. A
500-person group gathered in front of the Office of the Governor
and shouted slogans in favor of Abdullah Ocalan.
OZGUR GUNDEM: The tent-settlements (or -camps) that were set
up after the earthquake hit Hakkari will be abolished and the
tents will be reestablished at individual locations close to the
buildings in which people face the severe risk of collapse.
Removal of the tent camps disturbed some of the tent dwellers,
who are especially fearful of the cracks caused by the quake in
their houses. However, other people experiencing severe building
damage welcomed the idea.
BOLGE / OZGUR GUNDEM: The intensity of the hostilities in
Mersin have reportedly not decreased since Umit Gonultas was
shot dead during the Feb 15 demonstrations that aimed to protest
Ocalan's capture by Turkey six years ago. The riot police have
blockaded various streets in the province since then, (according
to Ozgur Gundem). DEHAP Provincial Youth Branches protested in
front of the Mersin Department of Justice the shooting of
Gonultas and demanded that the killers of Gonultas be found.
RADIKAL: The number of patients with pneumonia and bronchitis
has increased by 120 percent in Tatvan in Bitlis province. The
Chief Doctor of Tatvan Birth and Child Care Hospital reported
that between January 1 and February 10, 2,773 children with
respiratory inflammations, pneumonia and bronchitis have been
brought to the hospital for treatment.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
1. MILLIYET / EKSPRES / BOLGE / ZAMAN / TURKIYE: Adana
Chamber of Commerce will open the East Mediterranean Foreign
Trade Center today to foster the international relationships of
Cukurova Region's SMEs. Among the undertakings of the Center are
providing advisory services to the SMEs with regard to national
and international fairs and promoting the export opportunities
available within the (Cukurova) region.
2. SABAH (GUNEY): Saban Bas, Chairperson of the Adana
Chamber of Commerce, expressed that the 1st Economic Cooperation
Forum of Adana turned out to be a very fruitful event. According
to Bas, the Forum's achievements beneficial to Adana's economy
were the business ties established with the participant foreign
businessmen, which are worth billions of dollars and the
opportunity to discuss the economic problems of Adana with PM
Erdogan.
3. SABAH (GUNEY): During their meeting with PM Erdogan and
the State Minister Kursat Tuzmen, Abdulkadir Konukoglu, Assembly
Chairperson of the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry, Nejat Kocer,
Chairperson of the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry and Mehmet
Aslan, Chairperson of the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce,
submitted an alternative incentive program scheme to Erdogan.
Mehmet Aslan reportedly pointed out to the grave fact that
entrepreneurs are withdrawing their investment plans in
Gaziantep and being attracted by Syria, such as (oppotunuities
in) Aleppo.
REID