ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000264 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/SE, EUR/PD, NEA/PD, DRL JCS PASS J-5/CDR S. WRIGHT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU SUBJECT: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2008 In Today's Papers Confusion Continues over Headscarf Reform in Turkey All papers report that Monday, some universities allowed students wearing the headscarf to enter campus, whereas other universities made women remove their headscarves at the gate as usual. University rectors say that, to prevent chaos at universities, article 17 of the higher education law (YOK law) should be passed by parliament without delay. The constitutional changes will be submitted to President Gul for approval on Tuesday. Gul said yesterday he would take into account the sensitivities of all parts of society when he reviews the constitutional amendment, adding he would consider the anxieties about headscarf reform. Gul noted he hasn't made a final decision on the issue. Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said "Turkey has been debating the headscarf issue for 40 years," and that "the government is open to suggestions on how to implement the change." Cicek added "changes to article 17 of the YOK law will be made after President Gul approves the constitutional changes." Opposition CHP deputy group Chief Suha Okay warned university rectors would be 'misusing their authority' if they immediately allow students with headscarf in universities. Under the front page headline, "Turban is in Universities," the leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet says, "The Islamists couldn't even wait for President Gul's approval to go to classes with their heads covered." Liberal Radikal says "if the changes in the constitution are deemed enough for ending the headscarf restrictions at universities, then veil, chador or burqa, which are not openly banned by laws, would also be free." Editorial Commentary on Turban Debate Rusen Cakir observed in mainstream Vatan (2/12): "There are immense transformations taking place in Turkey. Leftists are moving toward the right and conservatives are moving closer to universal principles. However, these transformations have not been accepted by the public. Professor Senatalar said 'public consensus can be reached only by approaching a wider audience,' and I fully agree with this observation. Unfortunately, there are no signs of such an approach from the AKP government or from President Gul. The chaos that started in the universities yesterday over the turban issue will gradually increase. This chaos will not bring us to 'public consensus.' On the contrary, it will increase divisions in public. And, once again, the girls wearing the headscarf will be affected negatively." Ludwigshafen Fire Victims Buried in Gaziantep All papers report the remains of nine Turkish nationals, including five children, who were killed in a fire in the German city of Ludwigshafen, have been flown to Turkey for burial in the southeastern province of Gaziantep. Germany's Ambassador to Turkey Eckart Cuntz joined the funeral and made a brief speech in Turkish. Papers report a new eye witness has come forward, and this development strengthens allegations that the fire was a deliberate arson attack. The cause of the fire which swept through the old apartment building on February 3 has yet to be determined, though arson has not been ruled out. Meanwhile, mainstream Vatan says while Germany was mourning the Turks killed in the fire, Prime Minister Erdogan angered the German media with the nationalistic messages he delivered during his address to Turks in Cologne over the weekend. Editorial Commentary on Turks Killed in Fire in Germany Mehmet Yilmaz wrote in mainstream Hurriyet (2/12): "Even though there is no concrete evidence as to whether the tragic fire in Germany was a racist attack or not, funeral participants felt racist groups were responsible for the fire. That is why, they say, German officials attended the funeral. At the funerals, Christian, Jewish and Muslim Religious Officials prayed for the lost lives. Prime ANKARA 00000264 002 OF 002 Minister Erdogan and many Turkish politicians attended the funeral. Moreover, PM Erdogan addressed 20,000 people in Cologne. Now, just stop here for a second and glance to the recent past: Catholic Priest Santoro was murdered in Trabzon in a racist-fundamentalist attack, but no high-level Turkish officials attended his funeral. Hrant Dink was killed in a similar type of attack. The PM went to his house after the funeral to convey condolences to his wife. You are free to guess why he didn't attend the funeral and why he conveyed his condolence message behind closed doors. Turkish and German Christians in Malatya were killed by a fundamentalist-racist attack as well. No government officials attended their funerals either. Just remember the picture in Germany and compare it with the atmosphere in Turkey after these three brutal incidents. Some tried to protect the Malatya attackers by saying 'those who were murdered were missionaries,' some took family photos with the murderers, and many made intentional mistakes during the investigation. Just remember, all these murders took place in a country where the word "tolerance" is used all the time!" Hrant Dink Murder Trial All papers report the trial of the gunman who killed Turkish Armenian Hrant Dink and 18 other suspects continued in Istanbul. Friends and supporters of Dink demanded justice at the third hearing yesterday, waving banners that read "Justice for Hrant." "We consider it a minimal requirement to bring about a ruling that reaches all the people and organizations that are behind this case," they said in a statement. Last month, in a separate case named "Ergenekon," police arrested extreme nationalists suspected of plots to sow chaos in Turkey, and thus provoke a military takeover in ¶2009. Turkish papers believe the "Ergenekon" gang was also probably behind Dink's murder. Joost Lagendijk, co-chairman of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Assembly, said it was important that those who masterminded Dink's killing should also be brought to justice. The court is adjourned to February 25. TV News: NTV Domestic News - The DTP has lodged its preliminary arguments with the Constitutional Court in the closure case against the pro-Kurdish party. In 30 days, the Constitutional Court will send the chief prosecutor's views to the DTP for the party to prepare its final arguments. Over the course of the four months that will follow, the Court will make a ruling. - Turkish Statistics Institute says one quarter of recent male university graduates and half of female graduates are unemployed. - More than 15 million Turkish school students headed back to the classrooms Monday at the end of their two week school recess. International News - Tom Lantos, chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, died of cancer at the age of 80. Lantos supported the Armenian genocide resolutions submitted to US Congress in 2005 and 2007. - Turkish Cypriot 'Foreign Minister' Turgay Avci said ferry services between Syria and Turkish Cyprus have been resumed. - On Monday, tens of thousands of Iranians celebrated the 29th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran. Celebrations were marked by anti-US and anti-Israel demonstrations. WILSON