BISHKEK - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that trade volume between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan was 40 million U.S. dollars and he added that they decided with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Nikolai Tanayev to increase this figure to 200 million dollars in 2004.
Erdogan and Tanayev held a joint press conference following the meetings between the delegations.
Tanayev said that the meetings were sincere and added that they had taken up mutual relations.
Noting that they attributed importance to cooperation between the two countries, Tanayev said that relations between the two countries had a big potential, but there were still reserves which were not used.
Tanayev said that Turkish-Kyrgyz relations had sound bases and added that commercial and economic relations between the two countries should be long-termed.
Tanayev said that they attributed importance to Turkish-Kyrgyz Business Council meeting, which would be held tomorrow, for the development of relations on those fields.
Noting that they planned to develop military cooperation between the two countries by taking into consideration the location of Kyrgyzstan, Tanayev said that this cooperation would contribute to world and regional peace.
Tanayev said that Erdogan's visit would be a new turning point in Kyrgyz-Turkish relations.
Erdogan expressed his pleasure for paying an official visit to friendly Kyrgyz Republic.
Noting that Turkey had a special closeness and warm relations with Kyrgyzstan, Erdogan said that they wanted to develop these warm relations in every field.
Erdogan said that as Tanayev had told during his visit to Turkey in May, they had to develop commercial and political relations between the two countries and added that his visit was the first step of this.
Noting that there were no political problems between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan, Erdogan said that on the contrary, they had strong brotherhood ties. He added that he would also meet with Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev and Chairmen of Assembly of People's Representatives and Legislative Assembly during his visit.
Erdogan said that views on terrorism, fight against drug and security of two countries were coinciding with each other.
Erdogan said that they decided with Tanayev to increase trade volume between the two countries, which was 40 million dollars, to 200 million dollars in 2004. He added that the amount of investments of Turkish businessmen in Kyrgyzstan was nearly 400 million dollars. He noted that they aimed to increase the investments of Turkish businessmen in Kyrgyzstan by overcoming the obstacles and difficulties.
Erdogan said that they agreed on this issue with Tanayev and added that they would confirm this support for businessmen by attending the meeting of Turkish-Kyrgyz Business Council tomorrow.
(GC-ÖŞ) 21.10.2003