IZMIR — The İzmir Book Fair, the preeminent event for literature along with products, services and education supporting book buyers and sellers, kicked off last Saturday. This year writer Feyza Hepçilingirler is the guest of honor of the fair, which will welcome 405 publishing houses and nongovernmental organizations and more than 800 poets and writers. It is the must-attend event for book industry professionals and will be held at the International İzmir Exhibition Center - Kültürpark through April 27. The festival will commemorate the 100th year of birth of the great Turkish poets Orhan Veli and Oktay Rifat. TÜYAP is also hosting events for the 100th birthday of Turkish novelist Orhan Kemal, including an exhibition titled "Orhan Kemal 100 Yaşında" (Orhan Kemal is 100 Years Old), which can be visited throughout the fair. İZMİR / AA