SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 28, 2007

UNCLAS ADANA 000116 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 28, 2007 ¶1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 28, 2007. Please note Turkish press reports often contain errors or exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for the accuracy of the reports summarized herein. POLITICAL: ¶2. RADIKAL / ZAMAN / CUMHURIYET: Papers report Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Authority leader Massoud Barzani objected to clauses concerning hot-pursuit in Iraq and extraditing PKK terrorists caught in Iraq to Turkey in the anti-terror agreement that was the subject of three-day discussion by Iraq and Turky. The talks on the agreement, which was expected to be signed yesterday, have ended at an impasse. SECURITY ¶3. ZAMAN / EVRENSEL / RADIKAL / CUMHURIYET: During a regular patrolling duty in a rural section of Bitlis, two soldiers were reportedly killed by a PKK mine. ¶4. ZAMAN: The dailies report a PKK announcement that their 35-year-old female regional commander, who oversaw terrorist operations in Sirnak, Hakakri, Van and Siirt, was killed in clashes with security officers along with 9 other terrorists. ¶5. EVRENSEL: According to an online report on a website aligned with the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Iran began shelling Kurdish villages in the northeastern part of Iraq's Erbil district. ECONOMY ¶6. SABAH (GUNEY) / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): A 40-person delegation from Istanbul's Chamber of Commerce (ITO) came to Mersin in search of national investment opportunities. The delegation paid a visit the Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry. ITO's chairperson announced support for Mersin's bid to host the 2013 Mediterranean Olympics. ¶7. SABAH (GUNEY): The chairperson of Gaziantep's Young Businessmen Association complained about lack of a cargo hub at the new Gaziantep airport. ¶8. EKSPRES / BOLGE: A delegation of 20 Adana-based businessmen visited Rotterdam (Netherlands),calling it "one of the energy hubs of the world." CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ¶9. BOLGE: During anti-drug operations police searched a house in Mersin and found 7.7 kilograms of heroin hidden there. Three people were detained. ¶10. CUMHURIYET: Police caught 66 illegal foreign immigrants in Agri's Dogubeyazit district. Sixty-one were Pakistani citizens and three were Bangladeshis. CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT ¶11. EVRENSEL: Diyarbakir Governor's Office, Diyarbakir Municipality and Dicle University sponsored the sixth "Children Living and Working in the Streets Symposium" last week. In previous years, the conference was hosted in Izmir and Gaziantep. ¶12. EVRENSEL: Authorities compelled seasonal agricultural workers, who have lived Adana's Karatas district for the last several years, to evacuate the plot of land where they pitched their tents. Workers reportedly reminded authorities that Adana Governor Ilhan Atis's promise to provide permanent lodging for them remains unfulfilled. GREEN