GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 23

HURRIYET

--CHP LIKE SURREALIST PAINTING

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Republican People's Party (CHP) and said, "Entreating to their indulgence, I find this situation to be a bit like the surrealism movement in the art of painting. We see that CHP is moving towards a surrealist style of politics."

--WE'LL SEE HIS END ALL TOGETHER

CHP leader Deniz Baykal said, '"we will go through this period, but it will not go on like this. The PM also sees that it can't continue this way, therefore he is trying to keep up by attacking us. We should be patient."

MILLIYET

--HEADS AND FEET POLEMIC

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "May 1st should not be a day of tension anymore. The insistence to celebrate May 1st in Taksim square is not nice. When the feet try to govern the head there is doomsday."

Erdogan pointed out that everybody ought to respect the rule of law and said, " if they proceed with the mentality of 'I will do whatever I want wherever I want it' you can't stop the chaos that would arise in the country."

Revolutionary Labour Unions Confederation (DISK) and Turkish Confederation of Labor Unions (Turk-Is) immediately replied to PM Erdogan's remarks. DISK chairman, Suleyman Celebi, said the PM showed his political mentality with these remarks and said, "what you regard as the feet is what we call workers, civil servants, proletarians and housewives." Turk-Is chairman, Mustafa Kumlu, who said PM's remarks were "very harsh", vowed to insist on celebrating May 1st in Taksim square.

After the controversy over PM's speech at noon, Justice and Development Party (AKP) released a statement in the evening saying the PM did not imply anyone with his remarks.

--CONGRESS ACTIVITY IN CHP

The CHP congress is three days ahead. The prevailing air in the backstage suggest Deniz Baykal will assume the chairman seat. Candidate nominees Prof. Haluk Koc, Prof. Tolga Yarman, Ayhan Yalcinkaya and Umut Oran have to collect 253 signatures each in order to compete in the congress. But according to backstage rumors Yalcinkaya and Yarman would not be able to collect the required number of signatures.

SABAH

--NEW PERIOD FOR SABAH-ATV

Calik Group of Turkey paid 1.1. billion USD for Sabah-ATV media group and the sale process was completed. Calik Holding is known for its investments in various areas and particularly in textile and energy sectors. The group, which employs 15,000 people, raised this number to 18,000 by purchasing Sabah-ATV.

The holding announced that the media group will carry on with "responsible and ethical publishing".

--4 SOLDIERS KILLED, 10 WOUNDED IN HAKKARI

Four Turkish soldiers were killed when they stepped on land mines planted by PKK terrorists in Cukurca and Semdinli towns of the southeastern province of Hakkari. Ten soldiers were wounded in the blasts. Security operations against the terrorist organization continue in the region.

VATAN

--ARAB PARTNER TO SABAH-ATV

Two state banks issued a loan of 750 million USD, a Qatari partner purchased 25 percent of the shares and paid 350 million USD and Calik Group finally became the owner of ATV-Sabah media group.

Ahmet Calik, who submitted bid alone and won the tender for ATV-Sabah held on December 5th 2007, paid 1.25 billion USD (including value added tax) on the last day of the legal payment deadline and became the owner of the media group.

Calik said in a statement that Al Wasaeel International Media of Qatar bought 25 percent of the shares for 350 million USD.

--"VERDICT TO BE REACHED ON HEADSCARF BEFORE CLOSURE CASE", KILIC

Hasim Kilic, chief judge of the Turkish Constitutional Court, said that the verdict on the headscarf issue would be reached before the closure case filed against Justice and Development Party."The rapporteur, who has been working for 2 months, does not have any time limitations," Kilic said.

CUMHURIYET

--JOY OF SOVEREIGNITY

National Sovereignty and Children's Day is being celebrated all across Turkey today.

The celebrations will start by visits to Ataturk's Mausoleum, Anitkabir, and laying wreaths to monuments of Ataturk. Within the framework of the celebrations, children will visit the offices of statesmen and symbolically assume their titles.

Political leaders will deliver speeches at the parliament which will convene with a special agenda. A reception will be held at the parliament in the evening.

--TRAP OF TERRORISM: 4 SOLDIERS DEAD

Four Turkish soldiers were killed when the land mines planted by the terrorist organization PKK exploded in Semdinli and Cukurca. Seven security officers were wounded.

Attacks waged by terrorists wounded three soldiers in southeastern province of Sirnak as well.

RADIKAL

--CALIK FORMALLY OWNS ATV AND SABAH

Businessman Ahmet Calik paid the bidding price of 1.1 billion USD and formally became the owner of ATV tv channel and Sabah daily newspaper. Calik who received 750 million USD loan from two state banks, Vakifbank and Halkbank, took Qatari Al Wasaeel Media as partner with a share of 25 percent.

--ECHR APPROVES AGREEMENT ON COMPENSATION

European Court of Human Rights which reached a verdict on the application of three Greek Cypriots against Turkey, approved an agreement between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Compensation Commission and Greek Cypriot Mike Timvios. The Greek Cypriot side was opposing the view that Compensation Commission was an internal judiciary body.

YENI SAFAK

--ROAD MAP AGAINST CLOSURE

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan announced the government's "draft" road map against the closure case. PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold talks with deputies and then finalize the road map.

Babacan said his party would prepare a defense underscoring democracy and would carry on with reforms rapidly. He said the party would also fix the democratic deficiencies in the constitution with several packages that will also include the articles regulating the closure process.

--CALIK MAKES PAYMENT

Turkuaz Group which purchased Sabah and ATV for 1.1 billion USD, made the payment to Turkey's Savings Deposits Insurance Fund yesterday. Calik Group is the boss of Sabah and ATV now.