GUL TRAVELS TO QATAR
President Abdullah Gul will travel today to Qatar for three-day visit at the official invitation of the country's emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. In their talks, the two leaders will discuss regional and international issues. During Gul's stay, a Turkey-Qatar Business Forum will also be held by the Turkey-Qatar Business Council of Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK). /Turkiye/
SIX LITERARY LIGHTS GUL'S GUESTS AT CANKAYA PALACE
President Abdullah Gul yesterday met with six Turkish literary lights at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, the latest in a series of invitations to distinguished figures since he took office five months ago. His guests yesterday were Dogan Hizlan, Hilmi Yavuz, Adalet Agaoglu, Selim Ileri, Rasim Ozdenoren and Elif Shafak. At the occasion, he said he disapproved of referendums over "fundamental rights and freedoms," in particular citing the controversial headscarf issue, which faces a vote in Parliament this week. /Sabah/
GUL APPOINTS THREE TO BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION
President Abdullah Gul appointed three academics, Omer Demir, Berrak Kurtulus and Durmus Gunay, to vacant seats on the Board of Higher Education (YOK). Gul also approved the reelection of Necmi Yuzbasioglu to YOK by the Inter-University Council. /Turkiye/
ERDOGAN TO VISIT GERMANY THIS WEEK
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a four-day visit to Germany starting on Thursday. Erdogan is set to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday to discuss bilateral relations, Turkey's European Union membership process, and issues of Turks living in this country, as well as regional and international issues. Then Erdogan will attend an international security conference in Munich and hold bilateral meetings with world leaders. /Turkiye/
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS: "WE WON'T LET SECULARISM BE VIOLATED"
Supreme Court of Appeals acting Chief Justice Osman Sirin said yesterday that the judiciary won't allow anyone to violate the Constitution's principle of secularism. Speaking at a farewell ceremony for two retiring members of the court, Sirin criticized the government's recent initiatives to amend the Constitution to allow headscarves at universities. "The Constitution's principle of secularism can't be weakened through direct or indirect arrangements," argued the top jurist. /Milliyet/
SAHIN: "THE GOVT IS SENSITIVE ABOUT SECULARISM"
State Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said yesterday that no political parties in Parliament mean to weaken the regime or the Constitution's principle of secularism. Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting, Sahin commented on remarks by Supreme Court of Appeals acting Chief Justice Osman Sirin. Sahin said that the government was more sensitive than any other state institution about the republic and its principles. "We'll deal with the issue with great care so as not to harm the fundamental principles of the republic," said Sirin. /Cumhuriyet/
DSP'S SEZER MEETS WITH TOPTAN, ERDOGAN, BAHCELI ON HEADSCARF ISSUE
Democratic Leftist Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer yesterday met separately with Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli to discuss the headscarf issue. Speaking to reporters after meeting with Erdogan, Sezer said that he had expressed his party's concern over rising public tension and had urged the premier to halt his initiatives on the issue. /Turkiye/
MHP LEADER BAHCELI WARNS PARTY MEMBERS AGAINST PROVOCATIONS
Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday warned party members to resist possible provocations on the headscarf issue. Pointing to recent harsh criticisms of his party, as it supports government efforts to lift the headscarf ban at universities, Bahceli urged his supporters to be sensitive to mass demonstrations against the government initiative. /Milliyet/
PRINCIPLE OF SECULARISM'S ANNIVERSARY TO BE CELEBRATED
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul Provincial Organization today will celebrate the 71st anniversary of the principle of secularism being introduced into the Constitution. CHP officials said that today at noon, a ceremony will be held at Istanbul's Taksim Square, and called on all people to attend the gathering to support CHP efforts to preserve the fundamental principles of the Constitution. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH PLANES BOMB TERRORIST TARGETS IN N. IRAQ
Turkish fighter jets bombed more than 70 terrorist PKK targets in northern Iraq, the General Staff announced yesterday. "Some 70 targets came under fire, and after successfully completing their duties, our planes returned safely to their bases," the military said in statement. The statement added that only confirmed PKK targets had been attacked and that the "greatest efforts" had been made to minimize the impact of the operation on the civilian population. /Star/
GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER VISITS ANKARA
German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schauble yesterday met with his Turkish counterpart Besir Atalay and Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Bardakoglu. During the visit, Atalay said that Turks living in Germany face new difficulties due to a Migration Law passed last summer. For his part, Schauble said that Turks should learn to speak and read German to take advantage of equal opportunities. /Sabah/
NINE TURKS DIE IN FIRE IN GERMANY
At least nine Turks, five of them children, were killed and about 60 others were injured in an apartment building fire in the southwestern German city of Ludwigshafen on Sunday. The blaze started during a birthday party. The possibility of arson has been raised because the building was used by Nazis. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged German Interior Minister to investigate the cause of the fire. Expressing his sorrow over the lives lost, Erdogan underlined the possibility of arson. /Aksam/