US embassy cable - 05ADANA48

UNCLAS ADANA 000048 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, IZ, TU, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 10, 2005 
 
1.      This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for March 
10, 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. 
 
2.      EVRENSEL / OZGUR GUNDEM:        Controversy about the 
proposed Ilisu Dam project -- which threatens to submerge 
Hasankeyf, a historical town in Batman - continues. 
Environmentalists claim that bird species in the area, 
especially those vulnerable to extinction, will also be 
threatened by the project. 
 
3.      BOLGE / HURRIYET (CUKUROVA):    The recently elected Adana 
Chamber of Commerce (ACC) Assembly members will vote today to 
elect the Chairman of the ACC. Twenty-eight of the 99 assembly 
members have announced they will support (current Deputy 
Chairman) Halil Avci, the strongest rival of (current Chairman) 
Saban Bas. 
 
4.      ZAMAN: Mining companies in the areas are reportedly 
contaminating the small Eglence River in Karaisali district of 
Adana. Villagers complain they are no longer able to use the 
water for irrigational purposes or animal breeding, but their 
complaints are allegedly being disregarded by the authorities, 
who say they have not observed any contamination in the river. 
 
5.      CUMHURIYET:     Power lines were badly affected by a severe 
storm that struck Hakkari, and the whole city experienced a 
12-hour power outage. The people of Hakkari, who had just 
suffered through an earthquake in late January, were angry about 
the delay in restoring power in the city.