GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON OCT 23

HURRIYET
-- CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DRAWS FOUR RED LINES IN HEADSCARF DISPUTE
Turkey's Constitutional Court made public the reasoning of its verdict that annuls a constitutional amendment which would have allowed female students to wear headscarves in universities. The court said the amendment was an attempt to use religion as a tool for political motives, adding that it was against the principle of secularism. The court also said wearing a religious symbol could become a tool for pressure on people with different political views or different faith.

-- TURKISH BUSINESSMAN STABBED TO DEATH IN NEW YORK
A Turkish immigrant was stabbed to death after he parked his Mercedes-Benz SUV outside his house. Gokce Kurkcu, who owned a souvenir shop in Brooklyn, New York, was stabbed repeatedly. Police said his wallet and cell phone had not been taken. Homicide detectives interrogated Kurkcu's wife and another Turkish woman who was said to have involved in an affair with Kurkcu.

MILLIYET
-- FOREIGNERS MOVING AWAY, USD ON RISE
Foreigners are moving away from developing countries, and the sale of hedge funds is increasing. When the dollar rose to 1.67 new Turkish liras (YTL), eyes turned to the Central Bank of Turkey. The dollar was up 10 percent on the interbank market during the last three days. The dollar rose 35 percent in a month. The dollar is not only on the rise in Turkey, but it is also gaining value in Brazil, South Africa, Poland and Hungary. The reason for the dollar rise is the withdrawal of foreign investors from developing markets and the sale of hedge funds in recent weeks. Turkey is one of the countries where hedge funds are on the rise due to its current accounts risk worth $50 billion. The dollar demand of fund investors who want liquidity triggers the rise in foreign exchange rates. Now, eyes have been turned to the Central Bank of Turkey. Experts think that there should be intervention in the markets. Also, there are serious sales at the stock exchange. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) closed Wednesday with a loss of 4.1 percent.

-- EVENTFUL FUNERAL IN DOGUBEYAZIT
The funeral for Ahmet Ozkan, who was shot in the heart during an illegal protest in Dogubeyazit, Agri, turned into a demonstration. A group returning from the funeral chanting slogans, hurled stones at security forces. In a separate development, police intervened in a group of protestors in Adana. Also, a scuffle broke out between security forces and demonstrators in Viransehir, Sanliurfa.

-- INVESTIGATION INTO AHMET TURK
Diyarbakir Chief Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into Ahmet Turk, chairman of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), for his recent remarks. Turk had said, "The military intervention of 1980 caused political, social and cultural genocide for both the Kurdish people and all of Turkey." Also, a probe has been launched into Emine Ayna, deputy chairperson of DTP.

SABAH
-- HIGH COURT RELEASES REASONING FOR ITS HEADSCARF VERDICT
The Turkish Constitutional Court made public its reasoning for the annulment of a constitutional amendment that would have allowed female students to wear headscarves in universities. The court president, Hasim Kilic, and member Sacit Adali criticized the verdict, saying that it is "a judicial guardianship". Ergun Ozbudun, a professor on constitutional law, said the verdict was "an usurpation of authority".

-- TURKEY MOVES TO HOST WORLD WINE CONGRESS
Turkey has moved to host the World Wine and Vineyard Congress which will be held in 2012. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has sent a letter of request to the International Organization of Wine to propose Turkey as the host of the event.

VATAN
-- TWO-YEAR LIMITLESS GUARANTEE FOR DEPOSITS
The government, which has said so far that Turkey is as strong as a rock, started to see how serious the threat is. Although it is not really necessary, it is preparing to take deposits under limitless guarantee in order to send the markets a strong signal. The limitless guarantee will be valid for two years, or until Dec. 31, 2009 after it takes effect. This regulation is expected to be implemented together with the law that encourages citizens to bring money held in foreign countries back to Turkey. Deposits up to 50,000 new Turkish liras (YTL) are currently being guaranteed.

-- NEW STRUCTURE AGAINST TERRORISM
The Interior Ministry will be charged to coordinate fight against terrorism. The interior minister's authorization will be strengthened as the "deputy prime minister". A Supreme Board of Domestic Security and a general secretariat will be established to deal with security, economic, social, and psychological dimensions of fight against terrorism. The board and secretariat will produce policies to prevent people from joining the terrorist organization. They will prepare projects to re-socialize terrorists. They will open representations in Europe and regional countries against foreign links to the terrorist organization.

CUMHURIYET
-- FOREIGNERS AFRAID, USD ON RECORD RISE
Foreign investors, who have rushed into developing countries including Turkey for five years, started to sell their stocks. The three-day loss of the new Turkish lira (YTL) was over 12 percent. The dollar climbed from 1.48 to 1.6 YTL since the beginning of this week, and it was on a sharp rise and reached 1.66 YTL on Wednesday. After the evening statement of the central bank, the dollar reached 1.69 YTL.

-- CENTRAL BANK SIGNALS FOR INTERVENTION IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE
The Monetary Policy Board of the Central Bank discussed the rise in the dollar by keeping the borrowing interest rate constant. In its statement, the board said that all means would be used to intervene in the foreign exchange market if deemed necessary.

RADIKAL
-- "PARLIAMENT'S LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY RESTRICTED"
As Turkey's highest court released a report on why it annulled a constitutional amendment which would have allowed female students to wear headscarves in universities, the court's reasoning received criticism from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and scholars of law. Professor Burhan Kuzu from the AKP said the verdict curbed parliament of its functions. Another scholar, Prof. Levent Koker, said the court made its verdict by evaluating the purpose of lawmakers who made the amendment.

-- TURKISH MARKETS BASHED
Effects of a global economic crisis were severely felt in Turkish markets on Wednesday as U.S. dollar skyrocketed up to as high as 1.64 against Turkish currency in just 37 days, marking a 31.2 percent surge. Turkey's main shares index dropped 11,409 points with a 30 percent loss in value. Interest rates soared to 22.32 percent from 18.87.

YENI SAFAK
-- COURT CANNOT SET RULES ON CLOTHING
Hasim Kilic, the chief judge of the constitutional court, said that setting rules on clothing at universities would contradict academic freedoms. "Universities are not military barracks. The court has gone far beyond the limits drawn up by the constitution," Kilic said.

-- UNIVERSITY AMNESTY PASSED
The parliament adopted Wednesday the law that will enable around 800,000 students to return to universities. National Education Minister Huseyin Celik asked the students to make the best use of this opportunity, and said, "We do not want any amnesty law to be brought up to the parliament again."

-- SUPER UNDERSECRETARY
A new era is beginning in fight against terrorism. A board will be set up for a more effective fight against terrorism and for the coordination of units. The board will be comprised of representatives of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the General Staff, the Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry. Also, a Security and Counter Terrorism Undersecretariat will be established. The intelligence, fight against terrorism, fight against trafficking and organized crimes units of the Security Department and Gendarmerie will be under the authority of this undersecretariat. Also, the coast guard will be under the auspices of the undersecretariat.