GUL ATTENDS TURKISH-QATAR BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING
President Abdullah Gul, on a three-day official visit to Qatar, yesterday attended the first meeting of the Turkish-Qatar Business Council. Speaking at the gathering, Gul, accompanied by 150 businessmen and Turkey's energy, finance and public works ministers, said that recent democratic and economic reforms had strengthened Turkey and made it a more attractive country for investments. Also addressing the businessmen, Qatari Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabr Al Thani pointed to Turkey's importance for the region, adding that they were determined to further develop bilateral ties. /Aksam-Turkiye/

PRESIDENT GUL TO VISIT SOUTHERN ANATOLIAN CITIES
President Abdullah Gul is planning to pay visits to the southern Anatolian provinces of Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras and Sanliurfa. After traveling to Gaziantep tomorrow, the president is expected to visit the other two cities next week. Gul is also expected to soon pay visits to cities in Thrace, on Turkey's European side. /Turkiye/

PARLIAMENT VOTES ON ENDING HEADSCARF BAN
After weeks of controversy, constitutional changes to allow students to wear headscarves in universities faced a first vote in Parliament yesterday, with full support from the ruling Justice and Development Party and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Following highly tense debate on the issue, the amendments to Articles 10 and 42 of the Constitution were passed easily, by a vote of 397-113. The second round of voting is set for Saturday. During yesterday's session, which began at 3:00 pm and lasted past midnight, parliamentary deputies voiced their views on the proposed changes. Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies argued that the amendments were unconstitutional and would blatantly violate the republic's principle of secularism. Deputies from the AKP, MHP and Democratic Society Party (DTP), on the other hand, said the headscarf was a longstanding issue which should be dealt with in the context of individual freedom, adding that the amendments would allow all girls to continue their education. If the changes pass by a two-thirds majority of 367 votes in the 550-seat chamber on Saturday, they would go into effect after being signed by President Abdullah Gul. /Turkiye-Hurriyet/

ERDOGAN REITERATES SUPPORT FOR KOSOVO
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Fatmir Sejdiu, the president of the Kosovo Provisional Self-Governing Institutions. During their meeting, Sedjiu told Erdogan about Kosovo's current status as well as recent developments. "Kosovo will reach a position backed by the international community in which it will have good relations with its neighbors," Erdogan reportedly said. "Turkey supports such a position as well." /Star/

YAZICIOGLU VISITS SCENE OF GERMAN FIRE
In Germany yesterday, State Minister Said Yazicioglu and German Government Commissioner for Migration Maria Boehmer visited the scene of a deadly fire from earlier this week. "Our people shouldn't worry about the investigation," Yazicioglu said afterwards. "It will be concluded in a way that leaves no room for any doubt." For her part, Boehmer said that the German government shares the grief of the victims' relatives. /Aksam/

BAYKAL: "A NEW DAY MAY DAWN FOR THE TRNC"
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday met with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer. At a joint press conference afterwards, Baykal said that the international community should be ashamed of its failure to keep its promises to the TRNC. Saying that a new era may be beginning for the Cyprus issue, he added, "The attitude of peace and goodwill shown by the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot community on the international stage has come to nothing. The international community owes the Turkish (Cypriot) community. Promises were made, but not kept. On the other hand, this (Turkish Cypriot) community showed remarkable unity and cooperation." For his part, Soyer decried efforts in Europe and elsewhere to ignore the existence of the Turkish Cypriot community, calling the TRNC's forced isolation "inhumane." Saying that Turkish Cypriot young people are unable to take part in international sports events, Soyer stated, "Nor can they participate in cultural events. We can't have direct flights. Our right to direct trade is blocked. This is a major violation of human rights. We will continue our work to change this situation." /Turkiye/

SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS ELECTS NEW CHIEF JUSTICE
In the 19th round of voting, the Supreme Court of Appeals yesterday elected a new chief justice to succeed the retired Osman Arslan. Hasan Gerceker, former head of the Supreme Court of Appeals 9th Criminal Chamber, was elected to the post. The head of the court serves a four-year term. /Milliyet/

PIERINI: "THE HEADSCARF ISSUE DOESN'T CONCERN THE EU"
The headscarf issue doesn't concern the European Union, but it is keeping an eye on developments, said Marc Pierini, the head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey, yesterday. Speaking to the Aegean Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (ESIAD), he said that the EU supports reforms for democracy, human rights, the rule of law and strengthening civil society both in Turkey and other candidate countries. "When it comes to Turkey's membership process, legal facts and political perception must be well distinguished," he added. /Star/