ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on January 23rd, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CODE NAME OF MURDERER IS TAY ASKAR
It was revealed that nickname of Ogun Samast, the suspect of the murder of Hrant Dink, was "Tay Askar" in his neighborhood. Askar is given to white war horses which have long tails and mane.
His friends were calling Samast with this name because he was running very fast and he has thick beard.
SPECIAL IRAQ SESSION TO BE HELD
Parliament will hold a special session today at 7.00 p.m. about the developments in Iraq.
According to the bylaw of the Parliament, parliamentarians will attend the session. The president may attend as one of the audience. Only deaf tip staff are assigned in the sessions in question.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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NEGLIGENCE IN TRABZON
Police did not know anything about an organization that was formed by Yasin Hayal, who was convicted of the bombing of a McDonald`s restaurant in northeastern city of Trabzon in 2004 and incited the attack on journalist Hrant Dink. Replying to questions in regard to that organization, Trabzon Police Chief Resat Altay said, "some regulations have been changed within the scope of EU adjustment laws. There might be deficiencies in intelligence stemming from some amended regulations."
8-KM FAREWELL MARCH
Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, will be laid to rest today. Several people will march 8 kilometers from Sisli to Yenikapi district. The first ceremony will be held in front of the Agos newspaper building at 11.00 a.m. Dink`s wife Rakel Dink will deliver a speech there. People who will gather in front of Agos will start to march towards Taksim district. Another ceremony will be held at Kumkapi Virgin Mary Church in the afternoon.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ASSASSIN IS JUST A BAIT, ORGANIZATION IS BEHIND SCENES
They deliberately had the suspect (of the murder of journalist Hrant Dink) caught. Their goal is to convince people that the case is solved and to conceal the real subject, a senior official told the daily.
"I GAVE THE ORDER AND THE WEAPON"
Yasin Hayal, the man who is believed to have encouraged the murder of Hrant Dink confessed to giving the order and the weapon to Ogun Samast, the suspect in journalist slaying. He also admitted that he planned the murder as early as September.
BOLU TUNNEL FINALLY COMPLETED
The Istanbul-Ankara lane of the Bolu Mountain Tunnel is set to be inaugurated today at a ceremony which will be attended Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi. The tunnel reduces the average 30-minute Bolu Mountain passage to 5 minutes.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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WHY DIDN`T YOU MONITOR THIS MANIAC?
Yasin Hayal who incited Ogun Samast, the assassin of Hrant Dink, had given the signals of the armed attack on Dink when he bombed McDonald`s restaurant 2 years ago. However, he stayed in prison for 11 months and the police gave up watching him.
None of the activity of this man, who received bomb training from Chechens and full of hatred to everybody who is not Muslim, was not followed, and he got involved in the bloody attack which shook Turkey.
FUNERAL CORTEGE TO MEET AT AGOS AND WALK THROUGH 8 KM
Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos will be laid to rest today. Details of the funeral were made public through a statement.
Cover of the coffin will not be opened according to Armenian traditions at the ceremony in the church.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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DINK TO BE LAID TO REST
A 8-km silent march will be held for Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, who will be laid to rest today. Several people carrying banners that read "All We Are Hrant Dink" will gather in front of Agos newspaper and march towards Taksim district.
CALL FROM OGUN`S MOTHER
Havva Samast, mother of Ogun Samast --the suspect of killing journalist Hrant Dink-- said that her son should give the names of those who made him murder Dink.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CERRAH TRIES COVERING UP
Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah first said, "The murder (of Hrant Dink) did not have any political motive and any illegal organization was not involved in it," but then changed his mind: "The investigation as to whether the killing had any political motive or connection to an illegal organization is continuing."
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN MEETS PRODI
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there has been improvement in cooperation in the area of energy with Italy, stating that this cooperation would be boosted through natural gas and oil pipelines. Prime Minister Erdogan and Prime Minister Romano Prodi of Italy had a meeting in Prime Ministry HQ in Ankara. Erdogan and Prodi held a joint press conference after having a tete-a-tete meeting. The two premiers signed strategy document aiming to strengthen cooperation between Turkey and Italy. Erdogan said that Prodi and he had a very fruitful meeting, noting that they discussed political, military, economic, commercial and cultural relations.
EU`S HISTORICAL DECISION ON CYPRUS
European Union foreign ministers who convened in Brussels yesterday made an important decision in regard to establishment of direct trade ties with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Efforts should resume without delay on the adoption of EU Commission`s proposal to open direct trade with the TRNC, foreign ministers said in a statement issued by the EU General Affairs Council. The statement underlined that TRNC should be supported economically by EU.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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A FUNERAL CEREMONY WITHOUT BANNERS AND SLOGANS
A funeral ceremony will be held for slain journalist Hrant Dink today, which is expected to be attended by scores of people from different societal backgrounds. A group in charge of the funeral issued a statement yesterday and called for a silent march without chanting slogans or carrying any banners.
EU RENEWS COMMITMENT TO OPEN DIRECT TRADE WITH TRNC
The European Union reiterated commitment yesterday to establish direct trade ties with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). EU foreign ministers agreed to initiate the process to open direct trade without any delay but diplomatic sources were pessimistic about the issue: "It is "unlikely" that direct trade with the TRNC will start soon.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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GIVE NAME OF GANG THAT USED YOU
Havva Samast, mother of Ogun Samast who is suspected of murdering Hrant Dink, said she went to the Security Department when she first saw the pictures of her son on the TV.
Commenting on the allegations that her son committed the murder after performing the prayer, "he even does not now any prayer."
Havva Samast wanted his son to give the name of those that made him commit the murder.
POISED HAMMER BROKE NORTHERN IRAQ OFF
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Poised Hammer had an important role in fragmenting north of Iraq from Iraq and its becoming a no-fly zone. "Governments supporting extension of the mandate of Poised Hammer have important roles," Gul added.
I WILL MEDIATE FOR SOLUTION OF CYPRUS QUESTION
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said he could mediate for the solution of Cyprus question.
"I recommend you to be flexible, when even if Cyprus problem is in question," Prodi said.
Prodi indicated that he did not think Turkey would be an EU member in the short term, adding that, "membership in the short term is difficult, however it is possible in the medium and long term."