US embassy cable - 03ADANA245

UNCLAS ADANA 0245 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          SEPTEMBER 16, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press 
summary for September 16, 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. Turkiye / In Mersin province, security 
officials found two members of Hizbullah. 
Allegedly they are responsible for the 
kidnapping of Ramazan Gumus and Huseyin 
Bayburt. 
 
 
3. Evrensel / At a meeting in Diyarbakir, the 
Diyarbakir Youth Platform announced that 
they are against any decision to deploy 
Turkish troops in Iraq.  The group also 
focused on the deteriorating health of 
Abdullah Ocalan in prison and wanted better 
conditions for him.  Approximately 100 
people attended the meeting. 
 
 
4. Evrensel / An illiterate mother from Mersin 
went to the Registration Office and wanted 
to name her girl "Rewsen", a Kurdish name. 
The officials denied her request and she was 
offered a Turkish name, "Rahsan", instead. 
She refused the Turkish name and the 
officials gave her the ID card.  When she 
came home, she discovered that the ID card 
had the Turkish name  written on it. 
 
 
ECONOMIC 
 
 
5. Turkiye / As a result of 75 days of gravity 
measurements and test work, Aladdin Middle East 
Petrol Company found petrol in Karakilise, 
Diyarbakir province. 
 
 
6. Turkiye / Saban Bas, Head of the Adana 
Chamber of Commerce, announced that the 
International Industrial Fair scheduled from 
October 6 to 12 in Adana, will provide 2 
million dollars in aid for the Adana economy. 
 
 
7. Bolge / Turkish Airlines (THY) started 
direct flights between Adana and Izmir. 
According to a THY spokesperson, flights will 
be on Tuesdays and Thursdays departing from 
Adana at 11:50 a.m and departing from Izmir at 
9:30 a.m. 
REID