President Gul to leave for France tomorrow

President Abdullah Gul will depart for Paris tomorrow to attend a ceremony marking the Turkish Season in France along with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy. For the event, the Eiffel Tower will be lit up with the colors of the Turkish flag. Gul also yesterday attended the opening ceremony of the 2009-2010 academic year at Ankara University. Speaking at the ceremony, Gul said, "Politics and matters of state are among the interests of universities, but universities shouldn’t engage in daily political debates as if they were part of a political party." He added, "As long as academics see the big picture, their remarks are valuable. Honestly, academics shouldn’t be afraid of expressing the truth. You will, however, be taken more seriously if you speak constructively." Ankara Rector Cemal Talug also spoke at the ceremony, which Board of Higher Education (YOK) head Yusuf Ziya Ozcan also attended.