KYRGYZSTAN: THE UNITED STATES WON ASSURANCES FROM KYRGYZSTAN THAT WASHINGTON COULD KEEP ITS MILITARY BASE AS LONG AS THE SITUATION REQUIRED

Record ID: 337891

  • Title: KYRGYZSTAN: THE UNITED STATES WON ASSURANCES FROM KYRGYZSTAN THAT WASHINGTON COULD KEEP ITS MILITARY BASE AS LONG AS THE SITUATION REQUIRED
  • Date: 26th July 2005
  • Summary: (W2) BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (JULY 26, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENCE DONALD RUMSFELD AND KYRGYZ PRESIDENT-ELECT KURMANBEK BAKIYEV MEET AT THE START OF TALKS 0.11 2. MCU MEDIA 0.14 3. SV/MCU RUMSFELD AND BAKIYEV AND DELEGATIONS SEATED AT START OF TALKS (3 SHOTS) 0.36 4. MCU RUMSFELD TALKING 0.47 5. MCU OFFICIALS 0.53 6. SLV OF TALKS IN PROGRESS 0.57 7. MCU MEDIA 1.02 8. SV RUMSFELD AND KYRGYZ DEFENCE MINISTER ISMAIL ISAKOV ARRIVE FOR NEWS BRIEFING 1.08 9. MCU U.S. OFFICIALS 1.12 10. LV RUMSFELD AND ISAKOV IN BRIEFING 1.16 11. MCU (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENCE DONALD RUMSFELD SAYING: "We have good arrangements with a number of countries in this part of the world that have been fashioned over time and they have proved to be mutually beneficial which is important in any bilateral arrangement, that it be mutually beneficial. Clearly these bases and the co-operative arrangements we have, have been enormously helpful with respect to our efforts in Afghanistan." 1.42 12. MCU U.S. OFFICIAL 1.47 13. MCU (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENCE DONALD RUMSFELD SAYING: "The bases that we have in the region have been helpful to the international effort that is continuing with respect to Afghanistan and with respect to counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics generally." 2.02 14. MCU KYRGYZ OFFICIALS AT NEWS BRIEFING 2.05 15. MCU (Russian) KYRGYZ DEFENCE MINSITER ISMAIL ISAKOV SAYING: "The presence of the (U.S.) base fully depends on the situation in Afghanistan." 2.13 16. LV OF NEWS BRIEFING/ RUMSFELD AND ISAKOV LEAVE BRIEFING 2.22 17. SV RUMSFELD AND ISAKOV SHAKING HANDS AND POSING FOR CAMERAS 2.34 (W2) MANAS AIRBASE, 30KM EAST OF BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (FILE - MARCH 30, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 18. U.S. ARMY TRUCK ENTERING MILITARY BASE 2.40 19. U.S. SOLDIER ON GUARD AT MAIN ENTRANCE TO BASE 2.43 20. U.S. FLAG FLYING AT BASE 2.49 21. MILITARY TENT CAMP AT U.S. BASE 2.59 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN/ MANAS AIRBASE, 30KM EAST OF BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN
  • Country: Kyrgyzstan
  • Reuters ID: LVA35QIQMP15QS0HOBI7M7MSBCKS
  • Story Text: Kyrgyzstan links fate of U.S. base to situation in
    Afghanistan.



    The United States won assurances from Kyrgyzstan on
    Tuesday (July 26) that Washington could keep its military
    base in the ex-Soviet Central Asian state as long as the
    situation in Afghanistan required it.

    The assurances were given to visiting U.S. Defence
    Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who met Kyrgyz president-elect
    Kurmanbek Bakiyev and the country's acting defence minister
    in Bishkek on Tuesday.

    Earlier this month, members of a group uniting Russia,
    China and ex-Soviet Central Asian states questioned the
    need for Washington's bases in Kyrgyzstan and neighbouring
    Uzbekistan, set up in 2001 to support U.S.-led operations
    in Afghanistan. "The bases that we have in the region have been
    hel
    pful
    to the international effort that is continuing with respect
    to Afghanistan and with respect to counter-terrorism and
    counter-narcotics generally," U.S. Secretary of Defence
    Donald Rumsfeld told a joint news conference with acting
    Kyrgyz Defence Minsiter Ismail Isakov.

    "The presence of the (U.S.) base fully depends on the
    situation in Afghanistan," said acting Kyrgyz Defence
    Minister Ismail Isakov.

    Kyrgyzstan's new government, which came to power after
    a coup in March, is under strong pressure from its ally
    Russia, which is uneasy about the U.S. military presence in
    a region that Moscow considers its zone of influence.

    Rumsfeld, who appeared confident after talks with
    Kyrgyz President-elect Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Isakov, later
    told troops at the Manas base: "I wouldn't pack your bags."
    The Pentagon operates air bases in Kyrgyzstan and
    Uzbekistan it deems "vital" for delivering supplies to
    Afghanistan, but continuing access has become uncertain
    amid Russian and Chinese pressure that it withdraw.

    The United States has used Central Asia as a stepping
    stone to Afghanistan since it toppled the Taliban
    government there for sheltering al Qaeda leader Osama bin
    Laden after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. targets.

    Russia views the five former Soviet states in Central
    Asia as its backyard and neighbour China has also be
    MESSAGE TERMINATED

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