Güncelleme Tarihi:
The accord to use the Manas base as a "center of transit shipments" comes four months after the Central Asian nation ordered the eviction of
But it would provide a much-needed logistical support base as the U.S.-led coalition ramps up operations against increasingly bold Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in
Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev told lawmakers that under the new one-year deal, rent will increase to $60 million per year from the current $17.4 million.
The deal now goes to the full parliament, where approval is possible as early as the end of the week.
Officials at the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, said they could not immediately comment on the deal.
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev stunned
In addition to the annual rent, the base also contributes $150 million to the local economy every year through service contracts and aid packages, and around 600 locals are employed there, according to American officials. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates had said
With the Aug. 18 eviction date looming, however, Kyrgyz officials have suggested in recent weeks they might reconsider the decision.
The breakthrough appeared to stem in part from a personal message sent by President Barack Obama recently. According to Kyrgyz officials, Obama thanked Bakiyev for
Sarbayev told lawmakers that
Afghan leader Hamid Karzai met with Bakiyev at a summit in
The bases outgoing commander said the past year has been the busiest for the base because of the situation in
At the same time, militants have stepped up attacks on the main route for
Strictly offensive missions may be phased out under the new agreement, though observers doubt that the
"At the moment, they are only talking about a transshipment of nonmilitary goods," said Paul Quinn-Judge, of the International Crisis Group. "But I would not be surprised ... if there was eventually a cosmetic agreement that allowed the
Bakiyev’s eviction announcement in February came hours after
Analysts and opposition politicians have said in recent weeks that
"This decision tells us that the Kyrgyz government is not in charge of its own foreign policy but is just a plaything in the hands of the Kremlin," Bakyt Beshimov, leader of the opposition Social Democrat party faction, told The Associated Press on Tuesday.