Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary,

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0220

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,
AUGUST 20, 2003

1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press
summary for August 20, 2003. 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

2. Bolge / In Adana a big crowd of people,
including some parliament members and the mayor
of Adana, gathered to mourn on the first
anniversary of the 39 people who died in a bus
accident on their return from the Haci Bektas
Veli ceremonies.

3. Bolge / Democrat Turkish Party (DTP) started
its election campaign in Adiyaman. Sema
Kucuksoz, Head of DTP, addressed the
assembled group.

4. Turkiye / In Solhan, Bingol Province,
Security officials found seven Afghans who had
entered Turkey illegally.

5. Turkiye / In Araban, Gaziantep Province,
Gendarme Forces found some jewellery and coins
of historical value and arrested three people
for keeping them illegally.

ECONOMIC

6. Turkiye / In Dicle, Diyarbakir Province 55
people have contracted skin viruses, which take
the form of unusually large abscesses, and
which are medically described as "leishmania".
People get contaminated after being bitten by a
special type of mosquito called "Tatarcik".

7. Milli Gazete / Kilis, is in quarantine for
rabies. Kilis Health Authorities announced
that all animals entering and leaving Kilis
would be in quarantine for six months.

8. Sabah Guney / Immunization vaccine stock,
such as Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) in the
Southeast region health clinics have been
exhausted. About 135 health clinics in Adana
cannot implement their normal pediatric
immunization programs. Serdar Mercan, Head of
the health authorities in Adana, stated that
they are considering bids given by
pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and will
make a decision soon.

9. Turkiye / Sanliurfa Hydroelectric Power
Station is going to be ready for service by
year 2004.

10.Sabah Guney, Evrensel / The State Employees'
Union Confederation (KESK) in Adana and Mersin
protested the government's financial policy,
including non-payment of salary increases.

11.Bolge / Seyfettin Yilmaz, Head of the Adana
Forest Ministry announced all personnel are on
alert in case of a forest fire. Yilmaz stated
that they have enough vehicles and personnel to
fight forest fires.
12. Bolge, Zaman, Turkiye, Milliyet / Aytac
Durak, Mayor of Adana, announced that the
municipality has spent about 2 million USD for
the preparations of The International
Industrial Fair which will be held in Adana
between the dates of October 6 and 12.
HART

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