Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for August 26, 2005

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

UNCLAS ADANA 000157

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR AUGUST 26, 2005

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for August 26,
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

RADIKAL / ZAMAN / HURRIYET: Ministry of Interior inspectors
have completed their examinations of the following cases in the
Diyarbakir Municipality: municipality providing ambulance
service to PKK terrorists killed during military operations, and
municipality providing buses to DEHAP members, who were
celebrating the birthday of the terrorist leader Abdullah
Ocalan. As a result of the report's findings, the Ministry will
initiate an investigation against Diyarbakir mayor Osman
Baydemir and seven municipality employees.

SABAH / HURRIYET: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Matt
Bryza, who is currently in Turkey to discuss issues on the fight
against the PKK, Cyprus and the EU, reportedly extended strong
support to Turkey in its fight to counter PKK terrorism.

HURRIYET: The daily quotes statements from a letter written to
Abdullah Ocalan by a former Ocalan chief aide, Semdin Sakik, who
was caught in northern Iraq in 1998. Writing from prison this
month, Sakik reportedly advised Ocalan to lay down arms.

ZAMAN: Anthrax disease incidences have been on the increase
in Turkey's Eastern region. As a result of vaccination
treatment, the disease has been eradicated in the Altunbulak
village of the Kars province and the quarantine was removed.
However, the quarantine has been going on in three settlement
areas: Bitlis's Yaylacik village, Mus's Agarti village and
Kars's Baskoy village.

ZAMAN / RADIKAL : MIT intelligence agency of Turkey initiated a
probe into broadcasting companies that applied to RTUK (Supreme
Board of Radio and Television) for permission to broadcast in
Kurdish. Reportedly, while evaluating the applications, RTUK
will heed the information from the MIT.

ZAMAN: The daily draws attention to the increasing number
of people applying for visas at the Syrian Consulate in
Gaziantep and bases this interest in Syria on recent
developments in relations between Syria and Turkey. The Syrian
Consulate in Gaziantep is issuing 300 visas every day and 10,000
people have obtained Syrian visas since June 17.

ZAMAN: Nancy McEldowney, US Charge d'Affaires, said during
her visit to the State Minister Kursad Tuzmen that Turkey has
been "impatient" on the issue of PKK; yet, she added that she
understood the causes of that impatience. McEldowney further
said that the U.S., working together with Iraq and Turkey, would
do all it can in the struggle against the PKK.

OZGUR GUNDEM: DEHAP National Chairperson Tuncer Bakirhan
will not be able to attend a conference titled "Turkey-EU
relationships and the Kurds" because he has been barred from
going abroad by the court.

OZGUR GUNDEM: Six attorneys of Abdullah Ocalan applied to
the European Court of Human Rights to end the isolation of their
client in a prison cell in Imrali island.

REID

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