SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 01, 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000192 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 01, 2006 This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 1, ¶2006. 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) / BOLGE / YENI SAFAK: Ross Wilson, U.S. Ambassador in Ankara, paid a visit to the Mersin Governor and extended thanks on behalf of the U.S. citizens to the Turkish authorities and people of Mersin, who provided assistance during evacuation of U.S. citizens from Lebanon. Wilson said that he was proud to be in Mersin and expressed that American people will always remember Turkey's help shown during those difficult times. Wilson also made statements about the PKK issue and said that PKK was a terrorist organization and nothing can justify its attacks. Wilson expressed the U.S.'s solidarity with Turks and condemnation of recent PKK attacks. YENI SAFAK: Turkish officials reportedly found it unnecessary that Government of Iraq should also appoint an Iraqi envoy for countering PKK terrorism. It is also reported that U.S. Envoy for Countering Terrorism, Joseph Ralston, held his first meeting with the Turkish Ambassador in Washington. OZGUR GUNDEM: Dan Fried, Assistant Secretary of State, reportedly said that cross-border attacks are not going to help Turkey. Dan Fried also dismissed allegations that the U.S. Government was engaging in conversations with the PKK. ZAMAN / YENI SAFAK: A private was wounded in his leg as a result of gunfire by PKK terrorists at military residences in Van. RADIKAL: Four kilograms of C-4 explosives, which were allegedly placed on a road between Semdinli and Yuksekova districts in Hakkari by PKK terrorists, was barely noticed by security officers who were screening the road in advance of travel of military vehicles on the road. That section of the road is reportedly being used frequently for military dispatches. ZAMAN: Six terrorists surrendered themselves to security officers in Sirnak, reported the Governor's Office there. EKSRES / BOLGE: A 15-person group, which called itself "Solidarity with the Peoples of the Middle East", held a sit-in protest in the Inonu Park of Adana to protest Israel. ZAMAN / YENI SAFAK: The engineer of a train, which headed for Sirnak's Nusaybin district from Gaziantep, was caught with 50 kilograms of drugs in Gaziantep. OZGUR GUNDEM: Diyarbakir Governor's Office did not grant authorization to Peace Day festivities that were planned to be held on September 3 in Diyarbakir on grounds that an important examination will be held on the same day. DTP, however, decided to make a press announcement upon arrival of DTP national chairperson to the city. Meanwhile, DTP made calls to people to attend the September 1 peace Day festivities in Van, Mersin and Sirnak's Cizre district. EKSRES / BOLGE / HURRIYET: Abdullah Caliskan, an Adana deputy from AKP, had a coronary spasm yesterday morning and was hospitalized. Health condition of Caliskan is reportedly getting better. Hurriyet daily notes that Caliskan would vote against dispatch of Turkish troops to Lebanon. ESKPRES / BOLGE: Chairperson of Adana Chapter of Kizilay (Red Crescent) paid a visit to Adana Mayor Aytac Durak and requested contribution for the aid campaign launched by Kizilay for people of Palestine and Lebanon. BOLGE / ZAMAN: Prime Minister Erdogan will come to Adana today at 12:30 to conduct studies at the BTC (Baku-Tibilisi-Ceyhan Project) terminal in Ceyhan district. PM Erdogan will fly over the site of the BTC in a helicopter. BOLGE / HURRIYET: Devlet Bahceli, MHP National Leader, addressed large crowds (reportedly nearly 50,000 people) in Mersin and its Tarsus district as he attended August 30 Victory Day celebrations there. Bahceli, who talked about the PKK policy of the government, deliberations on dispatch of Turkish troops to Lebanon, and the recent forest fires, reportedly fired sharp ADANA 00000192 002 OF 002 criticism against the government during his speech. Deputy National Chairperson of MHP expressed similar concerns in a press announcement he made in Erzincan. BOLGE: Police in Osmaniye province caught 20 Pakistani nationals, who entered the country illegally, in a passenger bus in Osmaniye. The Pakistanis will be sent to Van and will be deported afterwards. HURRIYET: Thirty-six people, who entered the country illegally from Iraq, were caught in Pozanti district of Adana by Adana police undertaking regular road checks. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Police stated that a bomb, which exploded on August 29 in Mersin leaving one person injured, was a hand made one. The person detained after the event has reportedly been released. OZGUR GUNDEM: The inmates at the Kurkculer Jail of Adana, who were reportedly imprisoned for political grounds, sent a letter to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Turkish Parliament spokesperson Bulent Arinc, and condemned Abdullah Ocalan's confinement in his prison cell for 20 days. YENI SAFAK: 350 mayors will attend a meeting called Union of Historical Cities between September 7 and 9 in Mardin's Midyat district. GREEN