GUL AND MILITARY REBUFF CHP ALLEGATIONS
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) yesterday criticized the recent lack of Supreme Military Council (YAS) dismissals of officers for engaging in anti-secular activities, claiming this resulted from a deal between the army and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). But the military rebuffed the CHP allegations, dismissing them as a "figment of their imagination." The Presidential Press Center also denied the allegations, saying in a statement that it is "incomprehensible why a representative of a political party should feel regret over the lack of expulsions by the YAS, [and why] good relations between the organs of the state should be criticized, ignoring the general public interest and the necessities of service." /Milliyet/

BABACAN STRESSES ROLE OF AHMEDINEJAD'S VISIT IN EFFORTS TO SOLVE NUCLEAR DISPUTE
Commenting on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's upcoming visit to Turkey, Foreign Minister Babacan yesterday stressed again that people should focus on the visit's importance in terms of the current international situation. Saying that the visit comes amid a tense international dispute over Iran's nuclear program, he said, "Turkey is playing a key role in solving the issue through dialogue, and Ahmedinejad's visit carries great importance towards this end. An important issue which the whole world is focused on will be discussed in Turkey. That's the main thing we should pay attention to." Babacan also said that during the visit, Ahmedinejad would hear the expectations of Turkey and the international community on the issue. Babacan also touched on the Foreign Ministry's drive to hire more young staffers, saying these young people would be trained to become skilled diplomats through such initiatives as foreign language and master's programs. /Sabah/

LANDMARK BATTLE OF SAKARYA MONUMENT DEDICATED IN POLATLI
A monument to the soldiers who fell in the Battle of Sakarya, during the Turkish War of Independence, was dedicated yesterday in Kartaltepe, Polatli, with the attendance of Ankara Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug, Koc Group Chairman Mustafa Koc, and a host of other guests. The 32-meter-high monument, Turkey's tallest ever, was made through cooperation with the General Staff, Transportation Ministry and Koc Holding. A groundbreaking ceremony was also held nearby for a planned museum focusing on the battle. Speaking at the dedication, Buyukanit said that after a valiant struggle lasting 22 days and nights, Turkey's brave army made its mark on the epic rebirth of a nation which some believed had already ended. Stating that the monument and the museum would enrich understanding of Turkish history and culture, he said they would educate Turkey's youth and visitors from abroad about the Battle of Sakarya. /Turkiye/

TUZMEN: "STRUCTURAL MEASURES, NOT AN OVERVALUED YTL, WILL BRING DOWN INFLATION"
State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen said yesterday that Turkey should use structural instruments to curb inflation instead of depending on an overvalued New Turkish Lira (YTL). Stressing that countries following a development policy based on export gains don't let their currencies become overvalued, he said Turkey should do the same. Decrying how inflation has soared despite the overvalued YTL, he said, "This shows that a country's inflation can't be brought down by making its currency overvalued." /Sabah/

IMF: "WE CAN CONTINUE TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN CONSOLIDATING TURKEY'S ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS"
Concluding its evaluation of the outcome of the three standby agreements with Turkey since 1999, the International Monetary Fund Executive Board yesterday said in a written statement, "The IMF executive directors agreed that the Fund can continue to play an effective role in supporting Turkey's efforts to entrench economic stability and tackle its remaining vulnerabilities." The statement added that by the conclusion of the last standby arrangement this May, Turkey's economy had been transformed by a significant drop in inflation, a sharp decline in public debt rations, an overhauled banking system, and a prolonged economic expansion. "The review of the agreements has shown that Turkey still faces challenges to entrench macroeconomic stability, and that disciplined macroeconomic policies will be needed to continue reducing public debt ratios and restart disinflation trend," the statement said. Referring to instability and risks in the world economy today, the statement said that the Fund should sign a new agreement with Turkey. In related news, State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek said that the technical talks with the Fund would be concluded within a month. /Star/

ACADEMICS STEP DOWN IN PROTEST OF GUL'S RECTORIAL CHOICES
More than a dozen senior Turkish academics resigned yesterday in protest of President Abdullah Gul's choice earlier this week of 21 university rectors. /Milliyet/