US, Kyrgyzstan reach deal on air base use
By Leila Saralayeva, June 23, 2009, BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan
The former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan
tentatively approved a deal on Tuesday that should allow the U.S. to
continue shipping military hardware and troops crucial to operations in
Afghanistan through an air base in the Central Asian state.
U.S. forces had in February been ordered out of the Manas air base by a
presidential decree that stunned Washington and drew suspicion that
Kyrgyzstan was acting under the influence of Russia, which staunchly
opposes Western military presence near its borders.
But the deal approved Tuesday by a Kyrgyz parliamentary committee apparently
would allow the American base to remain open and continue to
be used by U.S. forces to transport weaponry and ammunition. That should
provide a much-needed boost as the U.S.-led coalition ramps up its
military operations against Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan.
The deal's biggest change is likely to be the cost -- more than three
times the current $17.4 million annual rent for the base. The final details of the deal, however, are likely to remain unclear at
least Friday, when the full Kyrgyz parliament is expected to vote, but a
significant departure from the current arrangement was not expected.
Besides its function as troops and armor transit, the Manas base is used to refuel
tanker planes that administer air-to-air refueling of allied jets
circling Afghan skies -- and is also a key medical evacuation point.
U.S. forces have had access to Manas, outside Bishkek, since 2001.
The base became even more important to the Afghan war effort after
neighboring Uzbekistan evicted U.S. troops from a base there.
Militants have stepped up attacks on the main route for U.S. military
supplies to Afghanistan through Pakistan -- although the military
maintains this has little impact on its operations.
Analysts, meanwhile, say Russia, which grudgingly accepted the
agreement, may have approved it in the hope of U.S. concessions on
issues that have badly strained its relations with Washington -- such as
NATO's possible expansion eastward and a planned U.S. missile defense
complex in central Europe. "Reaching this agreement is, of course, Kyrgyzstan's sovereign right,"
said a Russian Foreign Ministry statement released after Tuesday's deal
was announced.
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev stunned Washington in February when he
announced that U.S. forces would be evicted from Manas, saying
Washington was not paying enough, among other concerns. The announcement followed within hours of Moscow's pledge of more than
$2 billion in aid, loans and investment for Kyrgyzstan.
Yesterday, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev said his country
is concerned about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and
Pakistan, and the possibility that it could destabilize the entire
Central Asia region.
That is a reversal of the position in February, when official statements
cited improving Afghan security as a reason for closing Manas.
President Barack Obama recently sent a message of thanks to Bakiyev for
Kyrgyzstan's support of U.S.-led military operations in Afghanistan,
according to U.S. Embassy officials in Bishkek. And last week, Afghan leader Hamid Karzai asked Bakiyev to allow coalition forces to continue using Manas.
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