U.S. responds to Kyrgyz threats on base closure
20/04/2006 14:02
BISHKEK, April 20 (RIA Novosti) - The United States is willing to complete talks on the status of an U.S. base in Kyrgyzstan as soon as possible, diplomats said Thursday.
The U.S. Embassy in the ex-Soviet republic in Central Asia said in a statement that the airbase, located near Manas international airport in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, had been actively used by coalition forces to conduct anti-terrorist missions in Afghanistan and that its future operation was in the interests of both the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan's president threatened Wednesday to terminate an air base agreement with the U.S. unless it accepts new financial terms for deploying its troops in the republic.
Kurmanbek Bakiyev, speaking in a televised interview, said little progress had been made toward a new deal since he suggested raising the rent nine months ago, and that the amount currently paid by the U.S. was "purely symbolic."
"Kyrgyzstan reserves the right to consider terminating the bilateral agreement of December 4, 2001, should any circumstances prevent completion of the negotiating process by June 1, 2006," he said.
About 1,000 U.S. servicemen are stationed at the Manas airbase set up in December 2001 to support U.S.-led operations in neighboring Afghanistan.
The president said Kyrgyzstan had agreed to host the base "despite the fact that our partners in regional and other organizations expressed their concern over the presence of a U.S. airbase on Kyrgyz soil."
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