Kyrgyzstan Pushes US To Pay More For Airbase

THE STANS

Moscow (AFP) Nov 28, 2005
Kyrgyzstan increased pressure on the United States Monday to pay more for use of an airbase in the Central Asian state, as the country's president said he wanted to discuss the environmental impact of the US military presence there, Interfax reported.

"The issue of environmental protection in connection with the deployment in our country of US military infrastructure at the Manas airport is well-grounded and requires review together with our American partners," President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said in an interview with the news agency.

US forces were earlier this year evicted from a base in another ex-Soviet republic in Central Asia, Uzbekistan, that was set up to support operations in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, leading the Americans to rely more heavily on the base in Kyrgyzstan.

"Questions about preserving environmental security are a topic of discussion with the Americans," Bakiyev said, adding: "I hope they are reflected in a new agreement on terms for the US military presence at the base in Kyrgyzstan."

Bakiyev called earlier this month for Washington to pay more for use of the base in Kyrgyzstan.

"The United States pays fewer taxes and less money (than it should) for the use of the Manas base," he said at a news conference in Bishkek on November 2.

"Without a doubt the figures must be increased so that the United States pays more for their presence on the base."

Top US officials including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have visited Kyrgystan and other Central Asian states several times in recent months, though Washington has denied it is looking for a new place to open a base in the region.

Despite hinting at more money, Bakiyev does not appear to want to evict the Americans.

During a visit by Rice last month, Bakiyev signed a statement saying Kyrgyzstan supported the presence of US-led forces there "until the mission of fighting terror in Afghanistan is completed."

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THE STANS

Analysis: Kazakhstan, U.S. New Best Friend

Washington (UPI) Oct 25, 2005
It's official: Kazakhstan is the new darling of the West. Representatives from the United States and its latest Central Asian paramour gathered in Washington Tuesday, on Kazakh National Day, for a round of backslapping over their blossoming 'strategic partnership.'

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