Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has received the commander-in-chief of the US Central Command, Gen Tommy Franks, at the Ala-Archa state residence. They discussed issues of military and technical cooperation. Gen Franks assured Akayev that the United States of America intended to continue to give Kyrgyzstan military and technical assistance. Franks pointed out the importance of cooperation among the countries of the region to ensure security in Central Asia, as well as the importance of bilateral cooperation with Russia, Turkey and China. (Kabar)