US embassy cable - 03ADANA255

UNCLAS ADANA 0255 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          OCTOBER 1, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for October 1, 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. Zaman / Ramazan Ozunal, head of the Adana 
District Directors Association, announced after 
the association's meeting that the district 
directors want some changes in the local 
administration law.  Ozunal also stated that 
local districts have serious financial 
problems. 
 
 
3. Evrensel / Youth branches of the Democratic 
People's Party (DEHAP), SDP and Free Youth, 
organized a meeting in front of the Adana 
Central Post Office protesting against the 
possible decisions of the present government to 
"include Turkey in Iraq's occupation". 
 
 
4. Cumhuriyet / An earthquake of 3.9 shook Bingol 
on September 30 at 20:33.  No loss of life or 
injury has been reported. 
 
 
5. Cumhuriyet / In Payas, Iskenderun, Hatay 
province, an eight-year-old child was wounded 
due to an explosion in an area where metal war 
scraps from Iraq were stored. The police 
detained the guard at the storage area. 
 
 
ECONOMIC 
 
 
6. Ekspres / Saban Bas, head of the Adana Chamber 
of Commerce, announced that reorganizing the 
elections would badly affect the economic 
situation.  Umit Ozgumus, head of the Adana 
Chamber of Industry, stated that he doesn't 
consider it a problem if elections were to be 
repeated. "If it is going to help the exchange 
rates go up, we would welcome it," Ozgumus 
reported. 
 
 
7. Zaman / Umit Ozgumus also announced that two 
businessmen from the Chamber of Industry are 
going to Iraq to start business arrangements 
between the two countries. 
REID