Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for March 6-7, 2005

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

UNCLAS ADANA 000046

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 6-7, 2005

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for March 6-7,
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.

POLITICAL, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS

BOLGE: Nuray D.(a 26-year-old female) was detained in Istanbul
as a result of operations conducted by Adana's Provincial
Jandarma Command Intelligence Branch Directorate. She was
charged with "improvising a bomb and using explosives," as well
as with leaving a bomb suitcase in a disco in the Incirlik
district of Adana in early February. (Note: Regarding the
details of the event, see 2/3-press summary. End Note.)
Witnesses have identified the detainee and an Adana court has
initiated her prosecution. Nuray D. is allegedly a member of
MLKP (Marxist Leninist Communist Party). Her original targets
were reportedly buildings in Istanbul where Americans and
British carry out their activities.

CUMHURIYET: Through the joint effort of the Ankara Tandogan and
Diyarbakir Rotary Clubs, a seminar on "Facilitating the Teaching
of Reading and Writing" was held for 225 teachers serving at
schools in Mardin, Sanliurfa and Diyarbakir.

OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL: The Tunceli Chamber of Tradesmen
and Craftsmen collected 15,083 signatures to petition the
Turkish Parliament, Ministry of Education, Higher Education
Board and Ministry of Internal Affairs to include Tunceli on the
list of eighteen cities where universities will be built.

OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL: YODER (Yuzuncu Yil University
Student Association), along with various NGOs, unions and
political parties, protested the investigations of hundreds of
Yuzuncu Yil University students in Van. They made a press
announcement condemning the investigations; later students
marched while shouting, "Put an end to the terror of
investigations, our right to education cannot be impeded."

CUMHURIYET: Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Mesrob II conducted the
"Name Day" ceremony of the Karasun Manuk Armenian Church in
Iskenderun, Hatay province. Two hundred people came from
Istanbul to attend the ceremony. Following the event, Patriarch
Mesrob II attended another ceremony held at the Virgin Mary
Church in the only remaining Armenian village of Vakifli in
Samandag district.

ZAMAN: YOK's (Higher Board of Education) Inspection Board
spotted contract-awarding irregularities in the leasing of Dicle
University's immovable properties and the University's
purchasing of three pieces of medical equipment. YOK pressed
charges against the President of Dicle University, Prof. Fikri
Canoruc.

TERCUMAN: Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul (reportedly) stated
that no agreement has been signed between the U.S. and Turkey on
the use of Incirlik Airbase; Incirlik Airbase belongs to the
Turkish Armed Forces, he said, and its use by another country is
allowed only through the decision made by the Council of
Ministers.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

1. BOLGE / SABAH (GUNEY) / EKSPRES / MILLIYET: Israel's
Ambassador to Turkey expressed his country's wishes to carry out
investments in Adana province. During his visit to the Adana
Chamber of Industry (ACI), Ambassador Avivi announced that
Israeli businessmen support ACI's efforts, ongoing for six
years, to build a "Qualified Free Zone" project in Yumurtalik
district of Adana.

2. SABAH (GUNEY): Mustafa Yilmaz, Gaziantep MP from CHP
(Republican People's Party) and former State Minister, announced
that Gaziantep MPs had embarked upon efforts to put Gaziantep on
the Turkish government's incentive list and to expedite the
construction of the Gaziantep Airport.

3. YENI SAFAK: Truck drivers welcomed the good news that a
car-park with a capacity of more than 5000 vehicles will be
built at the Habur Border Gate in Sirnak. The planned car-park
will alleviate the situation of truck drivers that must endure
miserable conditions caused by long truck queues that form at
the Gate ("when the Iraq side stops the incoming traffic at the
border," reports Yeni Safak).

REID

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