US embassy cable - 03ADANA237

UNCLAS ADANA 0237 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          SEPTEMBER 10, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for September 10, 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. Evrensel, Cumhuriyet / According to the 
Landmine Search Committee report there are 
about 900,000 landmines in Turkey, constituting 
signs of possible danger in the future. 615,000 
of those mines are on Turkish-Syrian border and 
about 35,000 of them are in the Southeast area. 
After the announcement of the report the 
Diyarbakir Law Bar Association announced its 
campaign to fight against landmines. 
 
 
3. Bolge, Ekspres / Ismail Cem, Leader of the New 
Turkey Party (YTP), visited Adana.  During his 
visit he stated that YTP is the only "real" 
opposition political party in Turkey. 
 
 
4. Turkiye / Gaziantep province police found about 
120,000 illegally produced Captagon tablets, 
which are illegal to sell without a 
prescription.  Police also sealed the building 
where the tablets were produced. 
 
 
ECONOMIC 
 
 
5. Turkiye, Zaman / Cukobirlik Factory, which was 
closed about three months ago, was to be leased 
including its dedicated workforce.  Tender for 
the lease was due on September 9 however no 
company applied for the tender.  As a result, 
about 1,200 workers at the factory are being 
furloughed for three months. 
 
 
CULTURE and TOURISM 
 
 
6. Turkiye / Excavation work at the Karasis Castle 
in Kozan, Adana province, continues under the 
supervision of Professor Artur Hoffman. 
Hoffman stated that although Metro Markets 
financially supports the work, extra financial 
support is still needed. 
 
 
7. Milli Gazete / The International Mersin Music 
Festival starts on October 1. Festival programs 
can be obtained from the Mersin Culture Center. 
REID