GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAR 20

HURRIYET
-- THERE WON'T BE HEADSCARVED WOMEN AT BALLOT BOX BOARDS
Higher Board of Elections (YSK) decided that members of ballot box boards (who were appointed by political parties) could not wear headscarves. YSK said that the ballot box area was public.

-- JAPANESE TREASURE TO COME TO ISTANBUL
The logo of "2010 Japan Year in Turkey" events was introduced in a meeting participated by Crown Prince Naruhito Kotaishi of Japan. Japanese officials said that they were planning to exhibit Japanese treasure at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul in May.

-- SIGNAL FOR VISA-FREE GERMANY FOR THREE MONTHS
After a case filed by a Turkish truck driver, a new development regarding the decision of the European Court of Justice which ruled that "a visa cannot be asked from people who come to the EU countries for work". German Undersecretary of Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs Peter Altmeier, while replying to a motion by Turkish parliamentarian Sevim Dagdelen, gave the signal that visas may not be asked from Turkish citizens who plan stay in Germany not more than 90 days.

MILLIYET
-- CRISIS HITS TURKEY'S EUROPEAN PART HARD
The fallout from a global financial malady has begun to be felt heavily in Turkey's European region of Thrace where several plants have been shut down. Some of the workers say they have not been paid since the new year. Over 20 plants, including textile and tannery, have been closed with 400 of them suspending production. More than 7,000 people have applied for unemployment insurance.

-- GALATASARAY MISS QUARTER FINALS IN UEFA CUP
Galatasaray football team suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Hamburg in the second leg of round of 16 in the UEFA Cup, just brushing aside the chance to make their way to the quarter finals. The Istanbul team took the lead until the 60th when Hamburg equaled 2-2. It was the 90th when the German team sealed the ticket for the round of eight, dealing a heavy blow on the expectations of the former UEFA Cup winners of 2000.

SABAH
-- EU ADJUSTMENT TO HIGH TRIBUNAL
Hasim Kilic, head of the Turkish Constitutional Court, promised a properly functioning supreme court. Kilic gave important messages regarding the performance of the constitutional court, relations between the legislative, executive and judicial organs, as well as EU norms and "illegal tapping". "We have taken a step in line with the acquis at the High Tribunal Hall. Defense and prosecution will be at the same level as the High Tribunal. In 2010, there will be a constitutional court that reaches a verdict in 5 months after an application," Kilic said.

-- JOY OF "1 MILLIONTH CAR" AT TOYOTA
Japanese automotive giant Toyota manufactured its one millionth vehicle at its factory in the northwestern town of Adapazari. Japanese executive Maruwasa said that the company would not fire any employees despite the current economic crisis. Moreover, Tamer Unlu, CEO of the company's Turkey branch, said that Toyota's investments in Turkey had reached 1.2 billion euros.

VATAN
-- TRUST IN SOCIETY NOT IN ARMY
According to diaries which were claimed to have belonged to journalist Mustafa Balbay who was arrested under the Ergenekon probe, former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer warned republicans to trust in society, not in the army. In the diaries published in Tempo weekly magazine, Sezer was quoted as telling Balbay and Ilhan Selcuk, columnist and chairman of the board of trustees of daily Cumhuriyet, "The next government should enact a single-line law stating that 'all appointments made during the political power of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) have been cancelled'. We need to overcome this period with the possible least damage."
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-- KOC UNIVERSITY TO OPEN A MEDICAL SCHOOL
Koc University will open a medical school and start accepting registrations for the next semester. Professor Atilla Askar, rector of the university, said that they would also establish a training hospital with 200 beds.
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CUMHURIYET
-- OBAMA TO ASK FOR TURKISH TROOPS FOR AFGHANISTAN
A group of Middle East experts from the United States, who held talks in Ankara and Istanbul prior to an upcoming visit by U.S. President Barack Obama to Turkey, said that Obama would ask Turkey to mediate direct talks with Iran and send additional troops to Afghanistan. Prof. Michael F. Oppenheimer said the U.S. administration was considering Turkey as a model for other NATO members if it sent troops to Afghanistan.
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-- ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK PROVIDES LOAN FOR TURKISH RAILWAYS
The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) provided loan for Turkish railways, Turkey's Treasury Undersecretariat said. The Islamic Development Bank granted $153.6 million loan to the Turkish State Railways Administration (TCDD), a statement of the undersecretariat said. The TCDD will use the loan to rehabilitate railways and procure 250,000 tons of rail and other equipment. The loan with an 18-year maturity has a 20-year SWAP Rate, 55 bps interest rate, with a three-year grace period.
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RADIKAL
-- CIMBOM 2 HAMBURG 3
Galatasaray (Cimbom) soccer team of Turkey returned from the door of quarter finals in UEFA Cup. Cimbom, who hosted Hamburg of Germany in second leg (first leg 1-1), were 2-0 ahead until the 57th minute. But then Galatasaray conceded 2 goals in three minutes. On the 90th minute, Olic scored Hamburg's third goal.
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-- YSK: HEADSCARF BANNED
Higher Board of Election (YSK) stated that members of ballot box boards (who were appointed by political parties) could not wear headscarves. The reason: ballot box areas are public spaces; and the members of ballot box board fulfill a service.
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-- ARABIAN CHANNEL COMING
State-run TRT channel will start broadcasting in the Arabic language after Kurdish broadcasting. The target of TRT Seb'a (Channel 7) is Arabian citizens as well as Middle Eastern countries.

YENI SAFAK
-- ENTRY INTO GERMANY WITHOUT VISA
The reply to the motion of German parliamentarian, Sevim Dagdelen, paves the way for the entry of Turkish citizens to Germany without visa. According to the German government's reply, Turkish citizens will be able to enter Germany without a visa for visits up to three months.
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-- US DOLLAR FALLS SHARPLY
After U.S. Federal Reserve Bank (FED) announced that it would buy up to $300 billion of U.S. government bonds, the U.S. dollar fell sharply. While U.S. dollar stepped back to 1.68 TL, the euro increased to 2.33 TL in the markets.