Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ADANA73
2007-06-04 09:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Adana
Cable title:
SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 24, 2007
how-toVZCZCXRO4137 RR RUEHDA DE RUEHDA #0073/01 1550959 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 040959Z JUN 07 FM AMCONSUL ADANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4525 INFO RUEUITH/AFOSI DET 521 ANKARA TU RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1070 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0922 RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT MEADE MD RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1128
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000073
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 24, 2007
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000073
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 24, 2007
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for May 24,
2007. 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:
2. SABAH (GUNEY): Initial studies were completed for the
opening of the border gate in Mardin's Nusaybin district and the
governor's office will be holding a tender for de-mining of the
area around the envisaged border gate. The construction will be
sponsored by the TOBB (Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity
Exchange).
3. CUMHURIYET: CHP will start its election campaign in Mersin
and will hold its first political rally there on May 26. Deputy
national chairperson of CHP said that they wanted the "May 26
Republic Rally" in Mersin to have great impact nationwide.
4. GUNDEM: The daily reports that KKK, the political wing
of the PKK, denied any links with the explosion that took place
in Ankara. It further pointed out that the attack, which
coincided with a political turmoil in the pre-election period,
would be used to stoke hostility against the Kurds and the PKK.
Meanwhile, DTP (Democratic Society Party),ODP (Freedom and
Solidarity Party),and EMEP (Party of Labor) held a joint press
announcement in Istanbul and condemned the Ankara bombing.
5. GUNDEM: The daily reminds that the perpetrators of the
September 2006 bombing that took place in Diyarbakir's Kosuyolu
Park have not been found despite that 9 months have passed since
then. A person, who lost his wife and 4 children in that bomb
attack, said he would file a petition against the authorities
with the European Court of Human Rights.
6. GUNDEM: Ozlem Aktan, a journalist from the Gundem
daily, has been sentenced to three years in prison because of a
September 2006 article which included PKK statements and made
propaganda for the PKK. Separately, the daily reported that the
number of people extending support to hunger strikes initiated
in several cities in Europe and Turkey in order to draw
attention to the HEALTH condition of Abdullah Ocalan in his
prison conditions was increasing. Currently, a total of 1364
people are reportedly participating in the hunger strikes.
SECURITY
7. SABAH (GUNEY) / BOLGE / EKSPRES / CUMHURIYET: Upon
receiving a tip-off which said that a female terrorist would
come to Adana, Anti-Terror Branch of the Turkish Police stopped
a taxi they followed in the Yuregir district of Adana. Police
found 11 kilograms of A-4 plastic explosives, 12 fuses and two
hand grenades in the trunk of the car. Police detained the
female suicide bomber who was in the car, the taxi driver and a
suspected third person. Police reportedly heightened security
measures in the province. Adana Governor Ilhan Atis
congratulated the police for catching the suicide bomber.
CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
8. SABAH (GUNEY): Police caught 14 illegal migrants in a
small passenger bus parked in an area in Mersin's Silifke
district. Thirteen of them were Syrians and ONE of them was an
Iraqi national.
ECONOMY
9. BOLGE / EKSPRES: ONE of the leading iron and steel
producers of Russia, MMK (Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works),and
the biggest coal exporter company of Turkey, signed a deal to
build an iron and steel factory in Hatay's Iskenderun district.
CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT
10. EKSPRES: The opening ceremony of the "Second Annual
YOK-SUNY Collaboration for Sustainable Development Symposium"
was held in the Cukurova University of Adana. Ilhan Atis, the
Adana Governor; SUNY (State University of New York)
representatives; Atilla Eris, YOK (Higher Education Council)
member; Eric Green, U.S. Consul in Adana and many invitees
attended the ceremony.
11. GUNDEM: A 30-year-old woman, who was reportedly
ADANA 00000073 002 OF 002
kidnapped by an (unspecified) person in Diyarbakir's Ergani
district and brought to the Corlu province, ran away and found
refuge at his brother's house in Istanbul. However, she feared
that her relatives may kill her in the name of honor; therefore,
she could not return to Ergani. The woman, who was convinced by
her kin that nobody would do any harm to her, was stabbed and
killed by her husband when she returned two days ago to Ergani.
12. BOLGE: Belarusian Embassy announced that they will
open an honorary consulate in Adana.
13. SABAH (GUNEY): A gas explosion took place in an iron
and steel factory located at the organized industrial zone of
Hatay's Iskenderun district. ONE person died and 10 people were
wounded.
GREEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 24, 2007
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for May 24,
2007. 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:
2. SABAH (GUNEY): Initial studies were completed for the
opening of the border gate in Mardin's Nusaybin district and the
governor's office will be holding a tender for de-mining of the
area around the envisaged border gate. The construction will be
sponsored by the TOBB (Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity
Exchange).
3. CUMHURIYET: CHP will start its election campaign in Mersin
and will hold its first political rally there on May 26. Deputy
national chairperson of CHP said that they wanted the "May 26
Republic Rally" in Mersin to have great impact nationwide.
4. GUNDEM: The daily reports that KKK, the political wing
of the PKK, denied any links with the explosion that took place
in Ankara. It further pointed out that the attack, which
coincided with a political turmoil in the pre-election period,
would be used to stoke hostility against the Kurds and the PKK.
Meanwhile, DTP (Democratic Society Party),ODP (Freedom and
Solidarity Party),and EMEP (Party of Labor) held a joint press
announcement in Istanbul and condemned the Ankara bombing.
5. GUNDEM: The daily reminds that the perpetrators of the
September 2006 bombing that took place in Diyarbakir's Kosuyolu
Park have not been found despite that 9 months have passed since
then. A person, who lost his wife and 4 children in that bomb
attack, said he would file a petition against the authorities
with the European Court of Human Rights.
6. GUNDEM: Ozlem Aktan, a journalist from the Gundem
daily, has been sentenced to three years in prison because of a
September 2006 article which included PKK statements and made
propaganda for the PKK. Separately, the daily reported that the
number of people extending support to hunger strikes initiated
in several cities in Europe and Turkey in order to draw
attention to the HEALTH condition of Abdullah Ocalan in his
prison conditions was increasing. Currently, a total of 1364
people are reportedly participating in the hunger strikes.
SECURITY
7. SABAH (GUNEY) / BOLGE / EKSPRES / CUMHURIYET: Upon
receiving a tip-off which said that a female terrorist would
come to Adana, Anti-Terror Branch of the Turkish Police stopped
a taxi they followed in the Yuregir district of Adana. Police
found 11 kilograms of A-4 plastic explosives, 12 fuses and two
hand grenades in the trunk of the car. Police detained the
female suicide bomber who was in the car, the taxi driver and a
suspected third person. Police reportedly heightened security
measures in the province. Adana Governor Ilhan Atis
congratulated the police for catching the suicide bomber.
CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
8. SABAH (GUNEY): Police caught 14 illegal migrants in a
small passenger bus parked in an area in Mersin's Silifke
district. Thirteen of them were Syrians and ONE of them was an
Iraqi national.
ECONOMY
9. BOLGE / EKSPRES: ONE of the leading iron and steel
producers of Russia, MMK (Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works),and
the biggest coal exporter company of Turkey, signed a deal to
build an iron and steel factory in Hatay's Iskenderun district.
CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT
10. EKSPRES: The opening ceremony of the "Second Annual
YOK-SUNY Collaboration for Sustainable Development Symposium"
was held in the Cukurova University of Adana. Ilhan Atis, the
Adana Governor; SUNY (State University of New York)
representatives; Atilla Eris, YOK (Higher Education Council)
member; Eric Green, U.S. Consul in Adana and many invitees
attended the ceremony.
11. GUNDEM: A 30-year-old woman, who was reportedly
ADANA 00000073 002 OF 002
kidnapped by an (unspecified) person in Diyarbakir's Ergani
district and brought to the Corlu province, ran away and found
refuge at his brother's house in Istanbul. However, she feared
that her relatives may kill her in the name of honor; therefore,
she could not return to Ergani. The woman, who was convinced by
her kin that nobody would do any harm to her, was stabbed and
killed by her husband when she returned two days ago to Ergani.
12. BOLGE: Belarusian Embassy announced that they will
open an honorary consulate in Adana.
13. SABAH (GUNEY): A gas explosion took place in an iron
and steel factory located at the organized industrial zone of
Hatay's Iskenderun district. ONE person died and 10 people were
wounded.
GREEN