Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sept 21, SPA -- Russia's defense minister onWednesday pledged "large investment" in Kyrgyzstan toboost security and military ties with this Central Asiannation, which hosts U.S. troops, the ITAR-Tass news agencyreported. Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Russia was determinedto expand cooperation with the ex-Soviet republic, where ithas a small air base. "We are planning a large amount of investment inKyrgyzstan," Ivanov said in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek,according to ITAR-Tass. On his part, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev expressed hope on Wednesday that his country's military cooperation withRussia would continue to develop "dynamically andeffectively," ITAR-Tass said.--SPA1208 Local Time 0908 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/290853