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Kyrgyzstan's PM Hints U.S. Base To Close In Four Years

December 17, 2010

Almazbek Atambaev told parliament the transit center at the Bishkek airport operated by U.S. forces to support operations in Afghanistan would remain for four more years.

The parliament had just elected the leader of the Social Democratic Party to be Kyrgyzstan's new prime minister.

Atambaev said the United States and Kyrgyzstan had a five-year agreement for the U.S. to use part of Manas Airport.

"One year has passed," Atambaev said. He also said that he had informed "the leaders of several countries, that we could not violate an obligation we have taken on ourselves."

Earlier, deputies elected Ata-Jurt party leader Akhmatbek Keldibekov to be speaker of parliament. Deputies have also reportedly elected a cabinet.

Parliament assembled today and confirmed a majority coalition led by the Respublika party and including Atambaev and Keldibekov's parties.

The country had been without a government since the October 10 parliamentary elections.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgyzstan_manas_atambaev/2251657.html

Copyright (c) 2010. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.