Cablegate: Southeast Turkey Press Summary for September 15, 2005

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

UNCLAS ADANA 000164

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2005

This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for September 15,
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

ZAMAN: Agricultural experts advise that cultivation through
irrigation should be stopped for three years in the vast fertile
plain of Harran in Sanliurfa province because of the salt
accumulation resulting from the improper irrigation practices of
the farmers.

ZAMAN: Farmers in the Amik Plain of Hatay have been
suffering from the flooding of the Asi River in wintertime and
from draught in the summertime. The Asi River originates in
Syria, and Syria reportedly has been releasing water in winter
and stopping the release in summer.

RADIKAL / ZAMAN / HURRIYET / OZGUR GUNDEM / EVRENSEL / BOLGE /
EKSPRES / SABAH (GUNEY): In a series of speeches made in
Van, Diyarbakir, and lastly in Adana, Chief of Turkish General
Staff Hilmi Ozkok, stressed the themes of solidarity and unity
against provocations.

ZAMAN: Celal Dogan, former Gaziantep Mayor from the CHP
(Republican People's Party), dismissed claims that he would set
up a "Kurdish Party" together with the DTH (Democratic Society
Movement). Dogan said that it would be a gullible act to form a
party that would take its roots solely from an ethnic base.

OZGUR GUNDEM: Justice Minister Cemil Cicek reportedly said
that the case of terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan was closed and
Ocalan would not be allowed to see his attorneys anymore.

EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM: Diyarbakir's Human Rights
Association (HRA) announced a report covering the last three
months saying that 123 people lost their lives in clashes during
the report's timeframe. According to the report 118 people were
wounded in clashes and 165 people were detained for a variety of
reasons. Thirteen people died and 40 people were wounded as a
result of mine explosions in the region.

OZGUR GUNDEM: Leading 120 members of the intelligentsia in
Europe made a declaration in the Le Monde newspaper demanding a
democratic and just solution to the Kurdish problem.

BOLGE / EKSPRES: "From the Streets to the Future", a project of
the Adana Street Children's Association, which is being
supported by the EU as well, has been providing vocational
training in six different professions to 172 children. Five
months of the 10-month training, which will last ten months,
have been completed to date, and six trainees have already found
jobs.

EKSPRES: DYP Provincial Chairperson Nevzat Saskin criticized
Adana Mayor Aytac Durak for taking part in a delegation to
Ankara to convince the GoT to increase its corn incentives.
Saskin reportedly advised Durak to deal with more urgent matters
of Adana, such as the still-unfinished light metro project.

EKSPRES / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): The GoT started to
distribute fuel oil and fertilizer incentives to farmers.

CUMHURIYET: The daily reported that the U.S. was using the
Iskenderun port in the Hatay province to deliver logistic
support to U.S. forces deployed in Iraq.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

1. BOLGE: Farmers in Adana's Ceyhan district will hold a
big demonstration tomorrow to protest the agricultural policies
of the GoT (see press summary 09/14).

2. BOLGE: Export volumes to Iraq over the last eight
months have reportedly pleased Southeastern exporters.

REID

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