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U.S. Pays Kyrgyzstan More Than $17 Mln Annually For Airbase

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  • U.S. Pays Kyrgyzstan More Than $17 Mln Annually For Airbase

    U.S. PAYS KYRGYZSTAN MORE THAN $17 MLN ANNUALLY FOR AIRBASE

    RIA Novosti
    15:19 | 01/ 02/ 2008

    BISHKEK, February 1 (RIA Novosti) - Kyrgyz Finance Minister Tazhikan
    Kalimbetova disclosed on Friday that Washington pays $17.5 million
    each year in rent for an airbase at an international airport near
    the Kyrgyz capital.

    The U.S. Ganci airbase at Manas airport, located 30 kilometers (17
    miles) east of Bishkek, accommodates 1,000 U.S. troops along with
    nine refueling and cargo planes supporting antiterrorism operations
    in Afghanistan.

    The sum applies strictly to the use of facilities at the base, and
    is part of the overall payments the U.S. has agreed to make for the
    hosting of U.S. troops in the Central Asian republic since 2001. Some
    sources claim payments may total as much as $70 million, including
    sums allocated for health care and the fight against drug-trafficking.

    Although Russia has encouraged Bishkek to demand the withdrawal
    of American troops, the impoverished nation of five million needs
    U.S. support and the military base, which has generated jobs and is
    a strong contributor to the Kyrgyz economy.

    Russia established in October 2003 its own airbase in Kant, about 20
    miles west of the Kyrgyz capital, which currently deploys about 400
    troops, including 250 officers and NCOs and 150 conscripts, as well
    as 20 combat and transport planes, helicopters, and L-39 trainers.

    Kalimbetova said at a government meeting on the state budget that
    Kyrgyzstan has not charged Russia, and has no plans to impose
    charges for the use of the Kant airbase, because the Russian troops
    are stationed at Kant under an agreement in the framework of the
    Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) - a regional security
    bloc in Central Asia, which also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
    Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    "In addition, [Kyrgyzstan's] debt to Russia totals $184 million,
    and in these circumstances, to demand rent [for the airbase] would
    be rather inappropriate," the Kyrgyz finance minister said.
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