ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on April 15th, 2008. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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Turkey's Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan sent the bill amending Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) to the parliamentary committee on justice. Toptan said justice minister should have the mandate to file a lawsuit rather than the president. The committee will discuss the proposal on Friday.
ILHAN SELCUK UNDERGOES HEART SURGERY
A best-known Turkish columnist Ilhan Selcuk underwent a heart surgery and was reported to be in stable condition. The operation lasted for nine hours. "We have fixed the heart valve and by-passed four vessels. I am hopeful that he would recover soon," said Atif Akcevin, the doctor who operated on Ilhan Selcuk.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TOPTAN CRITICIZES, ERDOGAN DEFENDS
Regarding the amendment proposal on Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said it would be the most appropriate thing to seek the approval of the justice minister for filing a case as it was done previously.
"Otherwise, the office of presidency may be put in a difficult situation," Toptan said.
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended the amendment.
"Presidency is a level above all parties. We took a step in the light of this fact," he said.
PEACE BRIDE SENT HOME
The body of Italian artist Pasqualino di Marineo, also known as "Pippa Bacca" in her country, who was raped and murdered by Murat Karatas in Gebze town of the northwestern province of Kocaeli, was sent to her home country.
The artist's sister Antonietta Pasqualino said she saw a great love and support in Turkey. "This means Pippa's journey worked," Pasqualino said.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TOPTAN: GUL WILL BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED
Speaker of Turkish Parliament Koksal Toptan said that the authority to file cases based on Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code should rest with the minister of justice. "If the authority is granted to President Abdullah Gul, this would negatively affect his status," Toptan said. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the presidency is the most trustable authority to file cases based on Article 301. This article currently penalizes those who insult Turkishness.
CAMPAIGN FROM NATIONALIST MOVEMENT PARTY
Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) initiated a campaign against an amendment to Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. MHP is broadcasting ads on Kanal B, Bengi Turk and ATA TV that show the party as against amendments to Article 301. MHP also prepared an internet site to gather support against amendments to Article 301. This article presently penalizes those who insult Turkishness.

VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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DIFFERENT VOICES ON 301 WITHIN AK PARTY
Commenting on the bill which envisages to grant the president the prosecution right regarding Article 301, Parliament Speaker Toptan said such an authorization might put the office of presidency on the spot.
Premier Erdogan replied to this comment in Qatar. "If we had left this issue to the justice minister, they would have said it was a 'political' move. Therefore, we authorized the president on the issue as it would be more reliable to do so," he said.
WOMEN SAY FAREWELL TO PIPPA
A ceremony was held at the Italian Consulate in Ankara for Italian artist Pippa Bacca, who was raped and murdered by Murat Karatas, an ex-convict. Many women's organizations participated in the ceremony during which attendants carried placards saying "No to rapist violence of men" and "Peace".

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TURKISH ECONOMY TO FACE STAGFLATION, WSJ
The Wall Street Journal newspaper argued that the Turkish economy is about to face stagflation (high inflation in a period of recession). According to the WSJ, inflation in Turkey is rapidly rising and growth rates are falling.
SMOKING AGE IN TURKEY: 7
Istanbul University Medical Faculty's Dr. Firuz Celikoglu said that the age for beginners of cigarette smoking in Turkey went down to seven. Dr. Celikoglu said that around 100,000 Turks lose life annually due to smoking.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GOODBYE PIPPA BACCA
Several people chanted slogans against men's violence against women during the funeral of Italian artist, "Pippa Bacca". Ufuk Uras, chairman of the Freedom & Solidarity Party (ODP) of Turkey, said he hoped that the wedding dress that she wore would become one of the symbols of peace in Turkey. Giuseppina Pasqualino, who was known as "Pippa Bacca" in her country, was found dead in Gebze town of Kocaeli on Saturday. 33-year-old Bacca departed from the Italian city of Milan in wedding dress together with Silvia Moro, an artist friend of hers, on March 8th. The two artists were travelling to Israel by hitchhiking in order to give a "message of peace" to the world.
SERIOUS SITUATION WITH EU
Regarding the lawsuit filed for shutting down the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that if the party is closed down, there would be some economic consequences of it. Asked whether it might cause suspension of the membership negotiations with the EU, Babacan said, "I hope that such a development would not occur. We will work really hard for fulfillment of reforms."

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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DECISION OF PRESIDENT OUT OF DISCUSSION
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan replied to questions of reporters in Qatar. Erdogan said the bill amending Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code has been discussed by the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party in details. "We assessed the issue within our party and also with NGOs. As presidency represents a level above parties, we thought that making an assessment and reaching a decision at this level would be a much more reliable action," Erdogan said.
BRITAIN: WE MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS ON LAWSUIT WITH CONCERN
British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband said they have been monitoring developments about the lawsuit filed against the ruling AK Party with a great concern.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PARTY CLOSURE CAN HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT, BABACAN
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that a party closure in Turkey can have devastating impact on the country. "The closure case on AK Party can hurt Turkey-EU relations. EU may stop negotiations with Turkey if AK Party is closed," Babacan underlined.
AMERICAN COMPANIES ESCAPE FROM CRISIS IN U.S., SEEK PROFITS IN TURKEY
While the American economy drifts towards a recession, American companies are seeking ways to invest and make profits in Turkey. 65 American companies attending the "Trade Winds Europe" conference in Istanbul are holding talks with Turkish companies to establish partnerships.

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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I WILL COME TO TURKEY FOR HOLIDAY, PIPPA'S SISTER
The body of Italian artist Giuseppina di Marineo, who was killed in Gebze, was put into a coffin together with her favorite green scarf and sent to Italy.
The artist's sister, Antonietta Pasqualino, thanked the Turkish people and Turkey's Premier for their friendliness. Pasqualino said she would come to Turkey for a holiday.
CASE TO BE FILED AGAINST USA FOR MERVE
The family of Turkey's national swimmer, Merve Terzioglu, is getting prepared to file a lawsuit against a U.S. hospital.
The body of Merve Terzioglu, who died at a hospital after she had a car accident in USA, was brought to Istanbul. The family of the record-holder swimmer Terzioglu decided to file a lawsuit against the hospital on charges that the hospital "left their daughter alone at her room and caused her death".
(EÖ-SOL-DO-MS)