Gul addresses Kyrgyz parliament

As part of his three-day official visit to Kyrgyzstan, President Abdullah Gul yesterday addressed the Jokorgu Kenesh, the Kyrgyz Parliament in Bishkek. In his speech, President Gul said that Kyrgyzstan and Turkey should act as a team in Central Asia and boost their cooperation in all areas. Stressing that the Eurasian geopolitics will determine global balances in the 21st century, Gul said, "On the western end of this geopolitics is Turkey, while Kyrgyzstan is situated on the northern end of this region. Turkey is a NATO member and currently continuing accession talks with the EU. Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). We consider such connections between the two countries as the characteristics highly conducive to boosting and deepening cooperation ties between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan, not limiting them. You are represented in Europe through us, and we're represented in the CIS and the SCO through you. I believe this is important. Turkey and Kyrgyzstan together can play a key role in integration of Europe and Asia." Gul praised the Jokorgu Kenesh, which he said had the potential to lead the democratic development of Central Asia. Gul yesterday also visited the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University, where he was greeted by a group of students wearing traditional clothes, and attended a ceremony to open a new building at the International Ataturk-Alatoo University (IAAU), where he was greeted by Rector Erol Oral and a group of students. Gul opened up the building for service at a ceremony accompanied by Kyrgyz State Secretary Nuruulu Dosbol and Education Minister Abdilda Musayev. “Kyrgyzstan is our ancestral homeland. We felt home and in our ancestral homeland, while we have been in Kyrgyzstan,” Gul said in a speech he delivered at the IAAU, which was founded in 1996. “What matters is not only opening universities, schools, but being in a big competition in education with other schools, and everyone should compete with each other in this competition. It should be a means for reaching a higher educational standard. I'm greatly happy to see that the Ataturk-Alatoo University has an important place in this competition. I congratulate the university administration.” After completing his talks in Bishkek, Gul proceeded to Tajikistan for another official visit.