TURKEY-PRESS SCAN (2).

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IRAN CONGRATULATES THE DAVOS STANCE

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad issued a message Saturday addressing Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and said, "your courageous attitude, and your expression of the facts in an open manner, have stirred excitement and happiness amongst all world nations in favour of justice. I salute your dignified stance with warmest of hearts, and welcome it with appreciation. We pray for the great Turkish nation's and your success." Also a group gathering in front of the Turkish Embassy in Tehran, rallied to extend support to Turkey.

17 PERCENT CUT IN NATURAL GAS PRICES TAKES EFFECT

Turkey's Petroleum Pipeline Corporation which drew criticism with the 22 percent raise in November, reduced prices as of Sunday. The discount rate was announced Saturday by Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The reduction in prices will be 17 percent for domestic consumers and 18 percent for industrial consumers. With this reduction, monthly bill of a family which consumes 200 cubic meters of natural gas per month will drop 33TL. Further reduction is expected in March. Natural gas prices were increased by 82.15 percent since the beginning of 2008.

CUMHURIYET

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