KYRGYZSTAN: President Kurmanbek Bakiyev praises regional role of U.S. air base

Record ID: 612238

  • Title: KYRGYZSTAN: President Kurmanbek Bakiyev praises regional role of U.S. air base
  • Date: 12th September 2009
  • Summary: MANAS AIR BASE, KYRGYZSTAN (SEPTEMBER 11, 2009) (REUTERS) U.S. AMBASSADOR TATIANA GFOELLER GETS OUT OF CAR U.S. TROOPS AT BASE KYRGYZSTAN'S PRESIDENT KURMANBEK BAKIYEV WITH GFOELLER AND OFFICIALS BAKIYEV WITH GFOELLER WIDE OF BAKIYEV WITH GFOELLER STANDING NEAR PODIUM AT COMMEMORATION CEREMONY U.S. AND KYRGYZ FLAGS BAKIYEV WITH GFOELLER LAY WREATH AT MEMORIAL CLOSE OF WREA
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kyrgyzstan
  • Country: Kyrgyzstan
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVAA8A8VIX448NF8Y0CCIF1SH04V
  • Story Text: Kyrgyzstan's President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on Friday (September 11) praised the role of the U.S. airbase in his country that he had sought to close down earlier this year.
    At a ceremony to mark the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, which triggered the Afghan war, Bakiyev said the Manas base had helped secure the Central Asian region.
    "It is important to note that in the eight years the airbase has been operating in Kyrgyzstan, it has significantly added to security in Afghanistan and the region as a whole," said Bakiyev in a speech to troops and officials gathered at the ceremony.
    The base lease was extended after Washington agreed a $180 million payment to Bishkek and renamed the base as a transit centre to supply troops battling the Taliban in Afghanistan.
    Getting Bishkek to reverse its February decision to close the base was a crucial victory for Washington, which is seeking to more than double its presence in Afghanistan by year's end to fight the Taliban insurgency.
    At the memorial ceremony where few U.S. servicemen were visible, Bakiyev said the base was his country's contribution to the fight on global terrorism.
    "Over the eight years of operation of the air base in Kyrgyzstan, it has made a significant contribution to strengthening security in Afghanistan and the region as a whole," said Bakiyev.
    Bakiyev had announced that the base would close during a visit to Moscow, just as Russia said it would offer $2 billion in crisis aid to the impoverished Central Asian ex-Soviet state. Moscow denied there was any link between the events.
    The U.S. ambassador Tatiana Gfoeller said her country appreciated Bakiyev's support in the fight against terrorism.
    "I want to thank President Baikyev personally for his efforts to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan and Central Assia, both President Karzai of Afghanistan, President Obama, have acknowledged this crucial role. Our partnership and shared common interest in regional security and stability have become the basis for a broader relationship that we can build upon," said Gfoeller, addressing the ceremony in Manas.
    Bakiyev and Gfoeller laid a wreath to commemorate the victims of the attacks in New York and Washington.
    In August, Bakiyev also announced Russia could open a second military base in the country, indicating a struggle for influence in the country from both Moscow and Washington.
    Analysts say that if the security situation in Afghanistan deteriorates, it will spill over into neighbouring Central Asian countries, creating a security threat to Russia and undermining U.S.-led efforts to stabilise the region.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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