WikiLeaks: 2002-12-31: 02ADANA437: Southeast Turkey Press Summary

Viewing cable 02ADANA437, SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY,

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 0437 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU IZ ADANA
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
DECEMBER 30, 2002 
 
 
¶1.  This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for December 30, 2002.  Please note that Turkish 
press reports often contain errors or 
exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for 
the accuracy of the reports summarized here. 
 
 
POLITICS, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS 
-------------------------------- 
 
 
¶2.  TURKISH MILITARY IN NORTHERN IRAQ 
(Hurriyet)  A caption with a daytime photograph 
claims Turkish Armed Forces are crossing from 
Turkey into northern Iraq at dusk.  Hurriyet 
newspaper claims that on December 28, 110 military 
trucks entered northern Iraq. 
 
 
¶3.  ADIYAMAN SYRIAC CHURCH AGAINST WAR 
(Evrensel)  Peace prayers were said during a 
worship ceremony held at Adiyaman's Suryani Kadim 
(Syriac Christian) Congregation.  Referring to the 
tension between the U.S. and Iraq that might turn 
into a war, Priest Malki Urek said he was against 
wars no matter where they were and between whom. 
 
 
¶4.  AK PARTY GAZIANTEP OFFICIAL:  U.S.' TARGET IS 
OIL WELLS 
(Turkiye)  Okkes Eruslu, President of the Gaziantep 
chapter of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), 
criticized the possible U.S. operation against 
Iraq. 
 
 
¶5.  PETITION DRIVE IN SANLIURFA 
(Evrensel)  Harran University (Sanliurfa) students 
launched a petition drive in support of the "I Want 
My University Student Initiative" campaign by Dicle 
University (Diyarbakir) students.  Signatures to be 
collected under the petition drive will be 
submitted to the Parliament. 
 
 
¶6.  RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS PRESIDENCY WORKERS FORCED TO 
RESIGN 
(Evrensel)  Sihmuslum Azizoglu, President of the 
Sanliurfa chapter of the Diyanet-Sen Labor Union, 
claimed the Sanliurfa Mufti's Office forced 50 
employees of the Religious Affairs Presidency to 
resign due to their union-related activities. 
Mufti Ibrahim Duman said his office would not 
discriminate among its employees due to their 
union-related activities, calling the allegations 
baseless and untrue. 
 
 
¶7.  SECURITY INCIDENTS DOWN 33% IN MALATYA 
(Turkiye)  Malatya Security Director Orhan Savas 
said public order related incidents have decreased 
by 33% in 2002, compared to 2001.  (No reason 
specified.) 
 
 
ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS 
-------------------------------------- 
 
 
¶8.  SOUTHEASTERN WOVEN PRODUCT EXPORTS UP OVER 43% 
(Milli Gazete)  According to the Southeastern 
Anatolia Exporters' Union, woven product exports 
from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region 
increased 43.4% in the first eleven months of the 
year, rising to USD 255.5 million from USD 178.1 
million for the same period in 2001.  Major 
customers included Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Romania, 
Uzbekistan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Belgium, 
Greece, France, the U.S., Algeria, Spain, Iraq, the 
U.K., Germany and Russia. 
 
 
¶9.  EXPORTS TO IRAQ CANCELLED DUE TO POSSIBLE IRAQ 
WAR 
(Turkiye)  Giyasettin Demirtas, President of 
Elazig's Yil-Tas and Keban Plastic Firm, complained 
about the negative effects of the possible U.S. 
operation against Iraq.  His firm had reportedly 
suspended exports (pipes and PVC) of USD 100 
million.  The firm had won an Iraqi contract to 
construct the proposed 80,000-person Baghdad 
Stadium and 1,000 homes. 
HOLTZ