Turkey's Erdogan Holds Talks With Kyrgyz Leaders

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiev (right) with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during an official welcome ceremony in Bishkek on April 9.

BISHKEK -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara is ready to provide Kyrgyzstan with military and financial support.

Following talks with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev in Bishkek on April 10, Erdogan said Turkish investors were interested in Kyrgyzstan's hydropower resources.

Earlier in the day, Erdogan met with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiev.

Speaking after the talks, the Turkish prime minister said his country was ready to help Kyrgyzstan turn NATO's transit center at the Manas International Airport near Bishkek into a civil aviation hub.

Kyrgyz and U.S. officials are currently discussing the transit center's future status after most NATO troops withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

Erdogan arrived late on April 9 for his two-day visit.

Kyrgyz and Turkish officials signed agreements on bilateral cooperation in aviation, tourism, and forestry.

With reporting by KyrtTAG