Turkish Foreign Minister In Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, 6 May 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that Ankara supports Kyrgyzstan's new leaders and has urged them to ensure that the 10 July presidential vote is free and fair.

Gul made his remarks after talks with Kyrgyz acting Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva in Bishkek today. Gul also said he thinks that Turkey and Kyrgyzstan have "meaningful" relations.

"I do believe that in this new period these [Turkish-Kyrgyz] relations will be even more meaningful and will serve as a model for all other states in Central Asia," he said.

Gul arrived in Kyrgyzstan yesterday for a two-day visit aboard a plane carrying a shipment of Turkish humanitarian aid. The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry released a statement today saying that no bilateral agreements are being signed during his visit.

(RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service/BBC monitoring/Kyrgyz TV)