ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on February 10th, 2008. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PARLIAMENT APPROVES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Turkish parliament approved a constitutional amendment to lift the ban on headscarf at universities that caused division in the country. Deputies voted 411-103 to approve the amendment. When parliamentarians attended the second round of voting for the bill, people from several provinces of the country gathered in Sihhiye Square of Ankara to protest it. On the other hand, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) executives said that they would appeal to the Constitutional Court to annul the constitutional amendment. CHP Chairman Deniz Baykal said it would cause tension and polarization in the country.
ERDOGAN: "WE HAVE LOW LEVEL TALKS WITH BARZANI"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Turkish authorities had low level talks with Massoud Barzani, the leader of the regional administration in the north of Iraq. Erdogan said, "our fight against terrorist organization PKK will continue until we win."
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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DANGEROUS DIVISION
Headscarf controversies dragged Turkey into a polarization. From non-governmental organizations to law experts, from businessmen to intellectuals, from politicians to families, almost all segments of the society was divided into two as "supporters" and "opposers" of headscarf.
411 "YES" VOTES FOR HEADSCARF
Constitutional amendment bill to lift the ban on headscarf at higher education institutions was passed in Turkish Parliament. At least 7 deputies from the alliance of Justice & Development (AK) Party and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voted "no".
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will appeal to the Constitutional Court.
"HEADSCARF DAY" ON STREETS
While a voting at the parliament was being held on constitutional amendments to liberate headscarf at universities, there was an anti-headscarf rally in Ankara. Tens of thousands of people urged government to resign. There were also demonstrations in several cities such as Izmir, Mugla, Sinop, Corum, Antalya, Denizli, Giresun and Kirklareli.
Meanwhile, people in central city of Kayseri and eastern city of Van rallied to support headscarf.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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'YES' IN PARLIAMENT, 'NO' AT STREETS
The constitutional amendment on articles 10 and 42 of the Constitution was approved in the parliament. 411 parliamentarians voted in favor of the amendment while 103 deputies voted against it. When the parliament was holding the voting on the amendment, people was protesting it at Sihhiye Square in Ankara. They chanted slogans against the bill.
TURKEY TO HOST JAPAN ELDERS
Turkey is getting prepared to undersign an interesting project in the coming days. Japanese elders will stay in nursing homes in Turkey. Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag had a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Turkey Nobuaki Tanaka. Akdag said that Turkey would host Japanese elders in nursing homes upon proposal by Tanaka.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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WELCOME CHAOS
Parliament passed constitutional amendments to lift the ban on headscarf in universities. But it paved the way for a new controversy. Things will be more complex when President Abdullah Gul approves the amendment.
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) is set to appeal to Constitutional Court arguing that the amendments are against "secularism". While Turkey will be awaiting court's decision, female students wearing headscarves will be pounding at universities' doors. Many university rectors will not allow them and the issue will be brought to the Council of State.
If the council backs the ban, headscarf will be banned in universities. If an "under chin" formula is found for the law on Higher Education Board, this arrangement will also be debated at the Constitutional Court. If the court annuls the amendments, the ban on headscarf will continue.
CLAIMS SAY DURSUN KARATAS DIES
According to information that Anadolu Agency correspondent in Brussels received from reliable sources, Dursun Karatas, leader of the terrorist organization DHKP-C, died of cancer in Belgium.
Karatas was taking medical treatment at Chirec Nuclear Medicine Center under a fake identity, according to police sources in Belgium. Other leaders of the organization kept this information confidential.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PEOPLE SAY 'NO' TO HEADSCARF
When the parliament was voting for the constitutional amendment aiming to lift headscarf ban at universities, hundreds of thousands of citizens were at streets to give a loyalty message for secularism. People gathered at Sihhiye Square in Ankara and protested the amendment.
KESICI: "TENSION NOURISHES AK PARTY"
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Ilhan Kesici criticized the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party's stance on headscarf issue. Kesici said there are serious economic problems in the country and AK Party aims to distract people from economic issues. If the government continues its policies in the same way, there will be polarization in the community, he stated.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CONSTITUTION AMENDED FOR HEADSCARF
The constitutional amendment aiming at lifting headscarf ban in universities proposed by Justice & Development (AK) Party and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) was approved in the Parliamentary General Assembly. The amendment that was passed in the parliament with 411 votes would be sent to the President's Office for approval.
ERDOGAN: "WEST SHOULD CUT ITS SUPPORT TO PKK"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy in Germany. Erdogan criticized European countries and said, "our operations in the north of Iraq will continue until we win. Financial sources for terrorist organization PKK must be curbed."
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TERROR MAY ONE DAY HIT YOU TOO
In his speech at the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said countries that did not take a tough line against terrorism may suffer from terrorism in the future.
Although the European Union labeled the PKK as a terrorist organization, Erdogan said PKK is still supported under different names.
"The amount of money it collected in just one country is about 5 million Euros. And PKK finances terrorist attacks against our country," Erdogan said.
TURKISH MILITARY TO HIT IN SPRING
Turkish Armed Forces is set to take springtime position to block PKK. Operations will increase after February 20th as temperatures will begin to rise. Diplomatic activities will be speeded up in line with military activities. Turkish General Staff will organize a symposium on "global terrorism and international cooperation" on March 10th and 11th in Ankara.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PARLIAMENT LIFTS THE BAN
Headscarf ban at universities was lifted at the parliament in a voting on Saturday. When deputies from Justice & Development (AK) Party and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) as well as several deputies from Democratic Society Party (DTP) supported the constitutional amendments, the bill passed with 411 "yes" votes, a record high vote.
PM Erdogan said, "everybody should respect national will."
FOUR CLEAR MESSAGES TO THE WORLD
PM Erdogan spoke at the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy and gave important messages:
-"Privileged partnership" is an ugly expression. We would not accept any alternatives other than full membership to EU.
-EU has declared PKK as a terrorist organization, however, they still find "financial resources" in many countries.
-Report on Cyprus by Kofi Annan is still pending at United Nations. Solution to Cyprus problem is being temporized.
-Armenia must withdraw from Karabakh and open its archives regarding the incidents of 1915. The problem can not be settled by lobbying.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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AMENDMENT APPROVED
The constitutional amendments to ease headscarf at universities were approved in the parliament. In a final vote, lawmakers voted 411-103 to approve two amendments. The first amendment to article 10 of the Constitution will insert the statement "...and in benefitting from all public services" in the last sentence of the article 10 of the Constitution "equality before the law." The second amendment to article 42 of the Constitution on "Right and Duty of Training and Education" adds the paragraph "no one can be deprived of his/her right to higher education for reasons not openly mentioned by laws. The limits of the use of this right will be determined by law."
ERDOGAN SAYS PKK IS SUPPORTED IN EUROPE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech at the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy in Germany and said, "terrorists wanted by Interpol's red notice have not been extradited to Turkey and these terrorists have been released in Europe. We cannot understand it."