VZCZCXRO4137
RR RUEHDA
DE RUEHDA #0073/01 1550959
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040959Z JUN 07
FM AMCONSUL ADANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4525
INFO RUEUITH/AFOSI DET 521 ANKARA TU
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1070
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0922
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/AFOSI DET 522 INCIRLIK AB TU
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT MEADE MD
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1128

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000073 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PINS PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR MAY 24, 2007 
 
 
¶1.      This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for May 24, 
¶2007.  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: 
 
¶2.      SABAH (GUNEY):  Initial studies were completed for the 
opening of the border gate in Mardin's Nusaybin district and the 
governor's office will be holding a tender for de-mining of the 
area around the envisaged border gate.  The construction will be 
sponsored by the TOBB (Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity 
Exchange). 
 
¶3.      CUMHURIYET:     CHP will start its election campaign in Mersin 
and will hold its first political rally there on May 26.  Deputy 
national chairperson of CHP said that they wanted the "May 26 
Republic Rally" in Mersin to have great impact nationwide. 
 
¶4.      GUNDEM: The daily reports that KKK, the political wing 
of the PKK, denied any links with the explosion that took place 
in Ankara.  It further pointed out that the attack, which 
coincided with a political turmoil in the pre-election period, 
would be used to stoke hostility against the Kurds and the PKK. 
Meanwhile, DTP (Democratic Society Party), ODP (Freedom and 
Solidarity Party), and EMEP (Party of Labor) held a joint press 
announcement in Istanbul and condemned the Ankara bombing. 
 
¶5.      GUNDEM: The daily reminds that the perpetrators of the 
September 2006 bombing that took place in Diyarbakir's Kosuyolu 
Park have not been found despite that 9 months have passed since 
then.  A person, who lost his wife and 4 children in that bomb 
attack, said he would file a petition against the authorities 
with the European Court of Human Rights. 
 
¶6.      GUNDEM: Ozlem Aktan, a journalist from the Gundem 
daily, has been sentenced to three years in prison because of a 
September 2006 article which included PKK statements and made 
propaganda for the PKK.  Separately, the daily reported that the 
number of people extending support to hunger strikes initiated 
in several cities in Europe and Turkey in order to draw 
attention to the health condition of Abdullah Ocalan in his 
prison conditions was increasing.  Currently, a total of 1364 
people are reportedly participating in the hunger strikes. 
 
SECURITY 
 
¶7.      SABAH (GUNEY) / BOLGE / EKSPRES / CUMHURIYET:   Upon 
receiving a tip-off which said that a female terrorist would 
come to Adana, Anti-Terror Branch of the Turkish Police stopped 
a taxi they followed in the Yuregir district of Adana.  Police 
found 11 kilograms of A-4 plastic explosives, 12 fuses and two 
hand grenades in the trunk of the car.  Police detained the 
female suicide bomber who was in the car, the taxi driver and a 
suspected third person. Police reportedly heightened security 
measures in the province.  Adana Governor Ilhan Atis 
congratulated the police for catching the suicide bomber. 
 
 
CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 
 
¶8.      SABAH (GUNEY):  Police caught 14 illegal migrants in a 
small passenger bus parked in an area in Mersin's Silifke 
district.  Thirteen of them were Syrians and one of them was an 
Iraqi national. 
 
ECONOMY 
 
¶9.      BOLGE / EKSPRES:        One of the leading iron and steel 
producers of Russia, MMK (Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works), and 
the biggest coal exporter company of Turkey, signed a deal to 
build an iron and steel factory in Hatay's Iskenderun district. 
 
CULTURE / SOCIETY / ENVIRONMENT 
 
¶10.     EKSPRES:        The opening ceremony of the "Second Annual 
YOK-SUNY Collaboration for Sustainable Development Symposium" 
was held in the Cukurova University of Adana.  Ilhan Atis, the 
Adana Governor; SUNY (State University of New York) 
representatives; Atilla Eris, YOK (Higher Education Council) 
member; Eric Green, U.S. Consul in Adana and many invitees 
attended the ceremony. 
 
¶11.     GUNDEM: A 30-year-old woman, who was reportedly 
 
ADANA 00000073  002 OF 002 
 
 
kidnapped by an (unspecified) person in Diyarbakir's Ergani 
district and brought to the Corlu province, ran away and found 
refuge at his brother's house in Istanbul.  However, she feared 
that her relatives may kill her in the name of honor; therefore, 
she could not return to Ergani.  The woman, who was convinced by 
her kin that nobody would do any harm to her, was stabbed and 
killed by her husband when she returned two days ago to Ergani. 
 
 
¶12.     BOLGE:  Belarusian Embassy announced that they will 
open an honorary consulate in Adana. 
 
¶13.     SABAH (GUNEY):  A gas explosion took place in an iron 
and steel factory located at the organized industrial zone of 
Hatay's Iskenderun district.  One person died and 10 people were 
wounded. 
GREEN