ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on January 22nd, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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SAMAST'S FIRST TESTIMONY
Ogun Samast (17), the suspect of journalist Hrant Dink's murder, who was captured with his gun in northern city of Samsun on Saturday gave his first testimony in police station. Samast claimed that he murdered Dink by himself. "I was chosen, because I am good at shooting and running," Samast stated.

BOLU MOUNTAIN TUNNEL TO BE OPENED TOMORROW
Bolu Mountain Tunnel (on the expressway connecting the capital Ankara with the commercial hub of Istanbul) will be opened tomorrow. Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian PM Romano Prodi will participate in the inauguration ceremony of the tunnel. Prodi is expected to arrive in Turkey today.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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"BIG BROTHER" REVEALED THIS TIME
The speculations that Yasin Hayal, who was kept in prison for leaving a bomb in McDonalds in northern city of Trabzon in 1994, was the inciter of Hrant Dink assassination; are getting stronger. According to intelligence collected by Istanbul police, Hayal was training ten boys between the ages of 15 and 17 for a year. He chose 17-year-old Ogun Samast for Hrant Dink killing because Samast was the best shooter and coolest and fastest person in this group. Police think that there was also a "big brother" organization in priest Santoro killing. A high-level official said, "big brothers were hidden in Santoro killing. However, the kid told his name this time. We even think that big brothers have connection with each other." Police are investigating the parallelism between Hrant Dink assassination and priest Santoro killing.

HIS PRAISE CAME BEFORE PRODI
Italian PM Prodi, who will arrive in Turkey today, sent messages to Turkey before this visit. Prodi noted that a country has to be "patient" on the road to the EU, and added, "Turkey will be a priceless resource for the EU after it fulfils all the reforms."

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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STILL NO PROTECTION
Reporter of daily SABAH, with an intention to test the security defect, which was brought to agenda with the assassination of Hrant Dink, went to the building where Orhan Pamuk lived on saturday and sunday. He noticed there was no security officials in uniform or undercover.
The reporter who entered the building rang the doorbell of Pamuk's flat. Pamuk who wanted to know who the visitor was, said he didn't want to talk when he learned the visitor was a reporter. If our reporter had been a terrorist, he would have easily accessed Pamuk.

YASIN INCITED THE ASSASINATION
The suspect Ogun Samast said in the interrogation, he committed the assassination upon Hayal's request. It was claimed that Samast planned the assassination four months ago together with Yasin Hayal who took part in the bombing of a McDonald's branch. Stating that they went to target practice with Hayal to the forest in Boztepe district of northern city of Trabzon, Samast said Yasin called him three days ago and asked him to kill Dink.

VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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IS THIS THE PLOT OF THE TWO, OR IS THERE A VERY BIG ORGANIZATION BEHIND THEM?
Following the capture of hitman of Hrant Dink, now the police is investigating the answer of this question which Turkey and the world want to learn.

DISCUSSIONS ON NATIONALISM
Discussions on nationalism was high on the agenda at Justice & Development Party (AKP) camp in Kizilcahamam. A total of 49 people disclosed their views in the first day.
Ayse Bohurler, a party member, criticized Prime Minister and leader of AKP Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his statements on nationalism.
Bohurler said, "we did not start like this when establishing the party. You recently have statements focusing on nationalism. This disturbs us." Erdogan in response said, "we did not chance our stance on democratization and on freedoms. My dear friend your style is very ugly."

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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"I WOULD DO IT AGAIN"
The 17 year-old suspect of Hrant Dink's assassination Ogun Samast stated he was influenced by websites which were against Dink and said he didn't regret the assassination. It was reported that ten people including Yasin Hayal (who is claimed to have incited the assassination) were taken into custody. The custody time was extended for the seven suspects who were brought to Istanbul. Samast said "I killed him after Friday prayer.

COLD SHOWER TO THE PM
Erdogan adressed the public at the Kizilcaham town of Ankara. "How many loaves of bread could you buy with the minimum wage in the past, and how many can you buy with it now? If you can buy less now don't vote me." said Erdogan measuring the minimum wage with bread costs. "We want jobs, we don't have bread at our homes. Kizilcahamam is full of coffee houses. The mayor is just sitting." said some of the citizens said upon the PM's remarks.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HAYAL INCITED
It has been claimed that Yasin Hayal, who bombed McDonalds three years ago, incited Dink's murder suspect Ogun Samast. It is also alleged that Hayal gave the gun to Samast. Hayal earlier tried to persuade two people to kill Dink, however he was not successful, it was said. It is claimed that Samast and Hayal are in connection with the youth branches of the Grand Union Party (BBP) although they are not official members. Police revealed that Samast was also involved in a bomb attack in Trabzon.

HIS FRIEND TOLD THAT HE WAS PLANNING FOR MORE THAN A MONTH
Ogun Samast's best friend E.G. said, "he showed me the photograph of Hrant Dink one and a half months ago, and told me that he would kill that man. But, I did not believe him."

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN: "WE ARE COMPETING WITH WORLD"
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "we are competing with the world." Speaking at a meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the Kizilcahamam town of Ankara, Erdogan noted that foreign businessmen invested in Turkey because they had confidence in its future. Erdogan stated that they aimed to increase per capita national income to 10 thousand U.S. dollars. "Our government has reduced IMF debt burden from 23.5 billion USD to 10.9 billion USD and there will be a serious drop this year," he added.

PRODI: "TURKS SHOULD BE IN EU"
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who will visit Turkey as the guest of Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that Turkey will be a significant source for the EU. Prodi underlined, "we are fully supporting Turkey's EU accession process."

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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Ogun Samast, the suspect of Hrant Dink's murder, made target practice with his friends in the forest. It was claimed that Samast planned the murder together with his 4 friends.
Yasin Hayal, who was involved in bomb attack on McDonald's restaurant in northern city of Trabzon two years ago, provided the weapon to Samast.

CHIEF PROSECUTOR: WE HAVE NOT SO FAR SEEN ANY ORGANIZATION LINK
Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin said they have not so far met any organization link in murder of journalist Hrant Dink.
Engin said 7 people were under custody in connection with the incident.

THOSE WHO RELY ON ECONOMY IN 2007 WILL NOT REMORSE
State Minister Ali Babacan opposed to the evaluations that 2007, in which presidential election and general elections will take place, will be a wasted year. He said, "whoever relies on us will benefit. Those who take steps accordingly will not remorse in 2008."

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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BOTH KILLER AND INCITER ARE EVIDENT
Hrant Dink assassination's suspect Samast and his connections indicate that it was an organized murder. Yasin Hayal, who bombed McDonalds, Oguzhan A., who killed priest Santoro, and Samast, who killed Dink... Those who are creating "national provocation" atmosphere in Trabzon are using these kids under 18. Police passed the first test by arresting the killer and the persons behind him. Turkey has now been dealing with the gang, and this gang can be collapsed by taking new steps.

GUL WILL FOLLOW ERDOGAN, NO PROBLEM
Deputy PM Abdullatif Sener recalled the days when FM Abdullah Gul was the prime minister, and said that the Justice & Development Party (AKP) will not have any leadership problem if PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan is elected president. Asked if Gul will become the AKP leader and prime minister if Erdogan becomes the president, Sener said, "this will not reduce AKP's votes."