SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 6-7, 2005

UNCLAS ADANA 000046 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 6-7, 2005 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for March 6-7, ¶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 BOLGE: Nuray D.(a 26-year-old female) was detained in Istanbul as a result of operations conducted by Adana's Provincial Jandarma Command Intelligence Branch Directorate. She was charged with "improvising a bomb and using explosives," as well as with leaving a bomb suitcase in a disco in the Incirlik district of Adana in early February. (Note: Regarding the details of the event, see 2/3-press summary. End Note.) Witnesses have identified the detainee and an Adana court has initiated her prosecution. Nuray D. is allegedly a member of MLKP (Marxist Leninist Communist Party). Her original targets were reportedly buildings in Istanbul where Americans and British carry out their activities. CUMHURIYET: Through the joint effort of the Ankara Tandogan and Diyarbakir Rotary Clubs, a seminar on "Facilitating the Teaching of Reading and Writing" was held for 225 teachers serving at schools in Mardin, Sanliurfa and Diyarbakir. OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL: The Tunceli Chamber of Tradesmen and Craftsmen collected 15,083 signatures to petition the Turkish Parliament, Ministry of Education, Higher Education Board and Ministry of Internal Affairs to include Tunceli on the list of eighteen cities where universities will be built. OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL: YODER (Yuzuncu Yil University Student Association),along with various NGOs, unions and political parties, protested the investigations of hundreds of Yuzuncu Yil University students in Van. They made a press announcement condemning the investigations; later students marched while shouting, "Put an end to the terror of investigations, our right to education cannot be impeded." CUMHURIYET: Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Mesrob II conducted the "Name Day" ceremony of the Karasun Manuk Armenian Church in Iskenderun, Hatay province. Two hundred people came from Istanbul to attend the ceremony. Following the event, Patriarch Mesrob II attended another ceremony held at the Virgin Mary Church in the only remaining Armenian village of Vakifli in Samandag district. ZAMAN: YOK's (Higher Board of Education) Inspection Board spotted contract-awarding irregularities in the leasing of Dicle University's immovable properties and the University's purchasing of three pieces of medical equipment. YOK pressed charges against the President of Dicle University, Prof. Fikri Canoruc. TERCUMAN: Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul (reportedly) stated that no agreement has been signed between the U.S. and Turkey on the use of Incirlik Airbase; Incirlik Airbase belongs to the Turkish Armed Forces, he said, and its use by another country is allowed only through the decision made by the Council of Ministers. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS ¶1. BOLGE / SABAH (GUNEY) / EKSPRES / MILLIYET: Israel's Ambassador to Turkey expressed his country's wishes to carry out investments in Adana province. During his visit to the Adana Chamber of Industry (ACI),Ambassador Avivi announced that Israeli businessmen support ACI's efforts, ongoing for six years, to build a "Qualified Free Zone" project in Yumurtalik district of Adana. ¶2. SABAH (GUNEY): Mustafa Yilmaz, Gaziantep MP from CHP (Republican People's Party) and former State Minister, announced that Gaziantep MPs had embarked upon efforts to put Gaziantep on the Turkish government's incentive list and to expedite the construction of the Gaziantep Airport. ¶3. YENI SAFAK: Truck drivers welcomed the good news that a car-park with a capacity of more than 5000 vehicles will be built at the Habur Border Gate in Sirnak. The planned car-park will alleviate the situation of truck drivers that must endure miserable conditions caused by long truck queues that form at the Gate ("when the Iraq side stops the incoming traffic at the border," reports Yeni Safak). REID