SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 10, 2005

UNCLAS ADANA 000048 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ TU ADANA SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 10, 2005 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for March 10, 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. ¶2. EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Controversy about the proposed Ilisu Dam project -- which threatens to submerge Hasankeyf, a historical town in Batman - continues. Environmentalists claim that bird species in the area, especially those vulnerable to extinction, will also be threatened by the project. ¶3. BOLGE / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): The recently elected Adana Chamber of Commerce (ACC) Assembly members will vote today to elect the Chairman of the ACC. Twenty-eight of the 99 assembly members have announced they will support (current Deputy Chairman) Halil Avci, the strongest rival of (current Chairman) Saban Bas. ¶4. ZAMAN: Mining companies in the areas are reportedly contaminating the small Eglence River in Karaisali district of Adana. Villagers complain they are no longer able to use the water for irrigational purposes or animal breeding, but their complaints are allegedly being disregarded by the authorities, who say they have not observed any contamination in the river. ¶5. CUMHURIYET: Power lines were badly affected by a severe storm that struck Hakkari, and the whole city experienced a 12-hour power outage. The people of Hakkari, who had just suffered through an earthquake in late January, were angry about the delay in restoring power in the city.