Pentagon
03 February 2009
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (r) greets Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, 03 Feb 2009 |
Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says the base at Manas in Kyrgyzstan is "hugely important" to the U.S. military and that the United States hopes to continue using the facility.
"This is an agreement between two governments, and the terms of that agreement are always subject to negotiation," he said. "And that is where we stand at this point. But we are hopeful that we can continue our good relationship with the Kyrgyz government and can continue to use Manas in support of our operations in Afghanistan."
But in comments made at about the same time in Moscow, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev said his government has decided to end U.S. use of the base and that the decision will be formally announced in the next couple of days.
The Kyrgyz president spoke shortly after Russia agreed to provide his country with aid that news reports put at about $2 billion.
Geoff Morrell (file photo) |
"Whether or not we pay more money is certainly a subject of discussion," he said. "But that shouldn't be a surprise. In any negotiation, money is often at issue, and hopefully we'll come to an agreement and can continue the use of the air base."
Morrell also disputed a reporter's suggestion that Russia is trying to reduce U.S. influence in the former Soviet Republics of Central Asia.
"I have seen nothing to suggest, other than press reports, that the Russians are attempting to undermine our use of that facility," he said.
The issue of U.S. use of the Manas Air Base comes as President Obama is in the final stages of considering a request from the American commander in Afghanistan to nearly double the U.S. troop presence to about 60,000. That increase would put pressure on U.S. supply lines, many of which run through the Manas base.
U.S. officials have said the Khyber Pass route and the air base in Kyrgyzstan are important links in the American supply chain. But they have also said they have several alternatives, including longer-range flights. U.S. officials also say they have been talking to other countries in the Middle East and Central Asia about establishing a northern land supply route from Europe to Afghanistan.