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.