US embassy cable - 03ADANA207

UNCLAS ADANA 0207 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          JULY 31, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press 
summary for July 31, 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 / Dr. Loretta Spencer Blatz from 
Washington University Medical Faculty came 
to Gaziantep to meet her Internet friend 
and to convert to the Islamic faith. 
Loretta changed her name as Latife.  Sait 
Celik, her boy friend from Maras 
University stated that they are planning 
to get married soon. 
 
 
3. Bolge / Office Workers Association in 
Kahramanmaras announced that they need to 
reopen the airport for flights.  Presently 
there are about 50 people working at the 
airport but there are no scheduled 
flights. 
 
 
4. Bolge / Governor of Bingol decided an 
unscheduled visit to Celtiksuyu Health 
Center on his way back from an opening 
ceremony only to find a dirty, unpleasant 
sight at the center.  Governor found 
opened medicine boxes, syringes and some 
illegal publications of PKK at the health 
center.  Four people of the health center 
are under investigation. 
 
 
5. Gunaydin / Mehmet Irmak, Head of TEDAS 
(Turkish Electric Distribution Company) in 
Tarsus announced that in order to fight 
against unauthorized electric users they 
raised the number of their staff from 5 to 
13 and the rate of illegal electric usage 
has dropped from %60 to %21. 
 
 
6. Gunaydin / Some American soldiers from 
Incirlik Base visited Urfa to see the 
historical places there. 
 
 
7. Hurriyet / Syrian Prime Minister Mustafa 
Miro announced after his meeting with 
Kursat Tuzmen, State Secretary that they 
are going to open a consulate in 
Gaziantep. 
HART