SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 3-4, 2005

UNCLAS ADANA 000045

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 3-4, 2005

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for March 3-4,

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

SABAH (GUNEY): After the fake raki incident in Istanbul,
observers noted that Adana's Hygiene and Health Institute
Directorate does not own the equipment to test the genuineness
of raki. Sabah Guney reports this is a "scandal."

CUMHURIYET: During the funeral of Hasan Sigva, one of the most
influential Naksibendi Sheikhs, thousands of people sang hymns
and carried green flags (symbolizing "sharia," according to
Cumhuriyet) in the Idil district of Sirnak. Reportedly attending
the ceremony were Veli Seyda, Sirnak MP from AKP (Justice and
Development Party); Resul Sadak, Idil Mayor; DEHAP (Democratic
People's Party) leaders, and many fully veiled women.

EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: During raids conducted in seven
villages in the Ozalp District of Van, twenty-eight villagers
were taken into custody on the grounds that "they aided and
abetted the outlawed organization." (Note: this refers to the
PKK terrorist group. End note.) Instead of sending detainees
to a hospital, medical checks were (allegedly) unlawfully
performed at the police station, according to Dincel Aslan, the
villagers' attorney. The villagers claimed they had been beaten
and treated badly.

OZGUR GUNDEM: In Yuksekova, Hakkari province, more than ten
thousand people attended the funeral of Yilmaz Buldan, an HPG
(People's Protection Forces) member who was allegedly captured
wounded, and then (allegedly) killed by security forces in
Mardin on February 23, 2005.

MILLIYET / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA) / BOLGE / SABAH (GUNEY) /
EKSPRES: Abdulkadir Aksu, Minister of Internal Affairs,
arrived in Adana to participate in a meeting called "Quality of
Life Indicators." During his visit, Mr. Aksu paid visits to the
Office of the Governor, Adana Municipality, Jandarma Regional
Command, and to Seyhan and Yuregir District Municipalities.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS


1. RADIKAL: According to Radikal, the BTC
(Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan Pipeline) project agreement stipulated that
crude oil should begin to flow into tanks in Ceyhan (in Adana
province) on May 10, 2005. Turkey is currently experiencing a
delay in the construction of its section of the pipeline, which
could postpone the flow into the Ceyhan tanks until late
September 2005.


2. ZAMAN / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA) / BOLGE: The "Brand Name
is Power" meeting, the eighth in a series of meetings organized
by Dogan Publications Co. about EU-related issues, was held
yesterday (Wednesday) at Hilton Hotel and hosted by Adana
Chamber of Industry. At the end of the meeting, CNN Turk channel
broadcasted the problems of the people of Adana on a live TV
program of a well-known journalist, Mehmet Ali Birand.


3. MILLIYET / TURKIYE / EKSPRES / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA) / BOLGE
/ SABAH (GUNEY): In the run-up to Chamber elections last week,
Aytac Durak, Mayor Of Adana, had openly taken a tough stance
against Umit Ozgumus' candidacy for re-election to the office of
Chairman of the Adana Chamber of Industry (ACI). Durak gave up
his confrontational tone to shake hands with Ozgumus, who was
re-elected. Fethi Coskuntuncel was re-elected as Chairman of
Adana's Commodity of Exchange. In a competitive race for
Chairmanship of the Adana Chamber of Commerce, Saban Bas faces
his former Deputy Chair Halil Avci.


4. VAKIT / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA) / MILLIYET / RADIKAL: The
shipment of goods from the Mersin Port and the Mersin Free Trade
Zone to the Habur Border Gate was temporarily suspended due to
the congestion at the Gate. State Minister Kursat Tuzmen stated
that the inconvenient experiences at the Gate were caused by the
Iraqi side's "inadequate management." Tuzmen added that, if
there were no obstructions on the Iraq side of the border,
congestion at the Gate would be eliminated within a week and the
smooth flow of traffic would be resumed.


REID