US embassy cable - 03ADANA168

UNCLAS ADANA 0168 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY 
JUNE 30, 2003 
 
 
1.  This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for June 30, 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. Hurriyet, / UNESCO is taking Mardin off the 
World Heritage List.  The report given by 
the International Organization of Monuments 
and Historical areas was a factor in the decision. 
Mardin is a 7000-year-old city that had applied to 
be on the  World Heritage List in 1981. 
 
 
3. Cumhuriyet, / The head of the Diyarbakir 
Human Rights Organization has been sued by 
the government due to the monthly reports 
about human rights in the area.  Government 
officials said the reports are not about 
human rights but include sections that 
support KADEK. 
 
 
4. Turkiye, / A Kurdish talk show was warmly 
welcomed in Batman. The show was the first 
in the area. Murat Batki, the speaker of 
the show, announced that government 
officials had organized and supported the 
event. 
 
 
5. Bolge, Turkiye, / Prime Minister Tayyip 
Erdogan was in Adana over the weekend. He 
had come for his party's yearly convention 
and the opening of the new courthouse. 
 
 
6. Bolge, Turkiye, / Security officials caught 
nine people including the leader of Marxist 
Leninist Communist Party Adana Branch for 
planning a bombing action against the Prime 
Minister during the new courthouse opening 
ceremony. 
 
 
7. Evrensel, / TEKEL workers protested the 
privatization policy of the government 
during Mr. Erdogan's visit in Adana. 
Security officials took down the posters of 
the group, which gathered in a park. 
 
 
8. Evrensel, / The first Kurdish song contest 
will be held by Mediterranean Culture and 
Art Center in Adana. 
HOLTZ