BISHKEK - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey played an effective role in its region and in the world due to the reforms it undertook during the republican period.
The 80th anniversary of the Turkish Republic was celebrated in the ceremony held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Addressing the ceremony, Erdogan said that the 80th foundation anniversary of the Turkish Republic and 2200th anniversary of the Kyrgyz state was celebrated in the year 2003.
Erdogan stated that Turkey was very much interested and appreciated the steps taken by Kyrgyzstan after the latter gained its independence, adding that ''the decision taken by friendly Kyrgyz Republic to celebrate the 80th anniversary of our republic is very meaningful to show the close relations between the two countries.''
Erdogan stated that Turkey had young population, and businessmen who could develop the regions where they worked.
Kyrgyz President Akayev said that Turkey had taken a very important place in the world history since its foundation.
Recalling that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded Turkish Republic by providing a secular order, Akayev said that Turkish Republic repelled forces coming from outside and introduced Turkish State to the world with Lausanne Treaty.
Akayev said that Turkey, as a member of world community, also had an important place in economy and stated that Turkey recorded great progresses in industry and agriculture sector and it also recorded great progresses in human rights.
State Ministers Besir Atalay, Mehmet Aydin and Kursad Tuzmen, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek and some deputies also attended the ceremony.
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN OPENS FAIR IN KYRGYZSTAN
BISHKEK - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened on Wednesday a fair held in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek by Kyrgyz-Turkish Businessmen's Association.
Goods produced by Turkish businessmen are being displayed in the fair.
Erdogan said that he was accompanied by almost 200 businessmen during his visit and stated that inauguration of the fair had an important place in the visit.
A new period started in Eurasia, Erdogan pointed out.
Erdogan later visited Beta Stores shopping center belonging to a Turkish businessmen and Demir-Kyrgyz International Bank.
(BRC) 22.10.2003