AFTER PASSAGE BY PARLIAMENT, END TO UNIVERSITY HEADSCARF BAN PROCEEDS TO PRESIDENT GUL
Parliament overwhelmingly confirmed its vote to allow students to wear headscarves in universities on Saturday by 411-103, with full support from the ruling Justice and Development Party and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The constitutional amendments would go into effect after being signed by President Abdullah Gul, but the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has pledged to challenge the changes in the Constitutional Court. /Aksam/
IN COLOGNE, ERDOGAN URGES LOCAL TURKS TO INTEGRATE WITH GERMAN SOCIETY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on a visit to Germany, said yesterday that Turks bring nothing but love, friendship and peace to the societies that they join. Speaking at a gathering in Cologne, Erdogan called on local Turks to integrate with German society while holding onto their own values. Stressing that Turks have made contributions to Germany's development, the premier urged them to take active part in all democratic platforms. Commenting on Turkey's European Union membership bid, Erdogan said that nothing besides full membership would be acceptable. /Star/
CROWDS TAKE TO STREETS PROTESTING PROPOSED HEADSCARF CHANGES
Even as Parliament was voting on the matter, as many as 200,000 people gathered in the capital Ankara on Saturday to protest the government's move to allow the wearing of headscarves at universities. Secularists from across the country, including judges, scholars, and representatives from 76 non-governmental organizations, gathered in the Sihhiye district and chanted "Turkey is secular and will remain secular!" Similar rallies were held in other provinces throughout the country. In related news, the Turkish Bar Association issued a declaration signed by 41 heads of regional bars criticizing the proposal to end the ban. Warning of a possible regime crisis, the lawyers said that the government's move had sowed public division and so urged a resolution through democratic means. /Turkish Daily News-Hurriyet/
TURKISH VICTIMS OF GERMAN FIRE TO BE LAID TO REST
Hundreds of people, most of them Turks, gathered yesterday at a memorial service for nine people killed last week in a fire in southern Germany. Turkish flags were draped over the coffins of the victims at the interfaith ceremony in Ludwigshafen. Turkish State Minister Said Yazicioglu, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, and German Commissioner for Migration Maria Boehmer also attended the event. Speaking at the ceremony, Yazicioglu reiterated the Turkish government's pledge to make sure the fire is investigated fully. Also speaking, Baykal said that they place great importance on the safety of Turks living in Germany. "If arson was responsible, the culprits should be found as soon as possible," he added. For her part, Boehmer said that Chancellor Angela Merkel also shares Turks' grief. Afterwards, the bodies of the victims were sent to Turkey, where they will be laid to rest today. /Sabah/
ISRAEL'S DEFENSE MINISTER DUE IN ANKARA TODAY
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is due in Ankara today at the official invitation of his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul to discuss matters of bilateral defense cooperation. After arriving this evening, Barak, who is also the leader of Israel's Labor Party, will begin his official contacts tomorrow. He will be received by President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and then have talks with Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, as well as Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. /Milliyet/
ARGUING AGAINST KOSOVAR INDEPENDENCE, RUSSIA DRAWS PARALLEL TO TRNC
Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence would "open a Pandora's box" in Europe, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov warned yesterday. Addressing the 44th Munich Defense Policy Conference, Ivanov argued against independence for Kosovo, adding that if European Union countries recognize Kosovo, then logically it would follow that they recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). /Cumhuriyet/
PARLIAMENT TO VOTE ON NEW FOUNDATIONS LAW THIS WEEK
The new Foundations Bill will be taken up this week in Parliament. On Wednesday and Thursday, lawmakers will debate the bill and then vote on it. /Turkiye/
ISTANBUL TO HOST INTL ECONOMIC CONGRESS IN JUNE
Turkey is preparing to host the 15th World Congress of International Economic Association (IEA) early this summer. The congress is held once every three years, and this year will be held on June 25-29in Istanbul. Joseph Stiglitz and Rober Solow, both Nobel Prize laureates, are expected to attend the gathering. /Star/