United States is ready to pay more for the right to keep its base in Kirghizia

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, right, with Kyrgyz

President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Kyrgyzstan nailed down

a promise of debt relief and billions in aid from Russia,

and announced plans to close a U.S. air base crucial to

the war in Afghanistan.

 

 

Vremya, Russia

Kyrgyzstan Leader Plays Russians Against Americans

 

"On the one hand, having made the decision to remove the American Air Base, President Bakiyev has managed to obtain a $2 billion credit from Russia. On the other - like a politically 'bullying' stock broker - with his decision, he managed to raise the stock price of his country in Washington."

 

By Arkadiy Dubnov

 

Translated By Yekaterina Blinova

 

February 20, 2009

 

Russia - Vremya - Original Article (Russian)

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev voted no on America's Manas Air Base near Bishkek. But Washington still hopes the Kyrgyze will reconsider.

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: Kyrgyz MPs vote to close a key U.S. base supplying troops in Afghanistan, hours before Nato chiefs meet to study a US plea to boost troop levels, Feb. 19, 00:01:38RealVideo

The Kyrgyzstan Parliament voted almost unanimously yesterday to denounce the agreement with Washington on the U.S. military's Manas Air Base at the Manas International Airport in Bishkek. Seventy-eight members voted "yea" with two abstentions, and one "nay" vote. This one vote of opposition came, as expected, from the chief of the Baktybek Beshimov faction of the Social-Democratic Party, who called the decision "premature." He noted that the Manas Air Base, like the Russian base in the city of Kante, "is an important link in the collective security system of Eurasia… and that the weakening of that system opens the way for extremism and terrorism."

 

[Editor's Note on the Kyrgyz Parliament: A number of groups and factions allegedly linked to organized crime jockey for power in the legislature. In March 2005, three of the then 75 members of parliament elected were assassinated, and another member was assassinated in May 2006, shortly after winning his murdered brother's seat in a by-election. READ The Tulip Revolution].

 

A substantial debate on the issue among MPs never occurred. The bill denouncing the "basic" agreement was guaranteed the necessary 46 votes in the 90-member chamber, since the pro-government party Light Path [Ak Zhol] holds an absolute majority.

 

The desired atmosphere for the vote was provided by a statement by Light Path MP Raisa Sidorenko, who informed her colleagues that "since the Manas Air base has been present in Kyrgyzstan, almost 160 tons of aviation fuel had been dumped [by the United States] in the Chuskaya Valley." Then referring to the analysis of specialists, Ms. Sidorenko noted that "one liter of kerosene can pollute a million liters of water." According to Sidorenko, because of the dumping of the fuel, "almost 92,000 inhabitants of the Chuskaya region have been left without a harvest, and even the deaths of cattle have been observed." Whether a similar loss of cattle had been registered in other regions of the republic that haven't been impacted by American kerosene, the minister did not report. It is also unclear whether the people of the Chuskaya region who lost their crops will file suit against the air base.

 

[According to the BBC, the decision to kick the Americans out of Manas Air Base came just hours after Moscow gave Kyrgyzstan a $2 billion loan].

 

Now the bill passed by Parliament must be signed by Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, after which the U.S. Embassy will be informed of the rejection of the agreement. And only then will the 180-day countdown begin which, according to the agreement with the Americans, must be given to the U.S. military to remove its presence in Bishkek.

 

Nevertheless, Washington still doesn't consider the decision inevitable. As official Pentagon spokesman Brian Whitman said yesterday, after receiving news from Bishkek about the Kyrgyzstan Parliament’s decision, "we continue to consider what we might be able to offer the [Kyrgyzstan] government, but we are not prepared to stay at any price, and will continue explore other options that are available to us."

 

This statement corresponds to the forecast made yesterday by the director of the International Crisis Group's Central Asia Project, Paul Quinn-Judge: "Now Kyrgyzstanis will await action by the American side. Even after the signature of President Bakiyev, the U.S. will have 180 days to persuade the Kyrgyzstanis to reconsider …"

 

Such a possibility exists. But it should be borne in mind that the decision of the Kyrgyz Parliament truly reflects the public mood in the country. To put it mildly, "The Adventures of Americans" in Kyrgyzstan throughout the past seven years of Manas' existence have not endeared them to the population.

 

1. Manas airbase: The only U.S. base in Central Asia, a vital

transit point for NATO operations. Kyrgyzstan wants it closed.

2. Karshi-Khanabad airbase: U.S. forces were ordered out in

2005. Uzbekistan may agree to allow its non-military use.

3. Bridge over Panj River: Partly funded by the U.S., it was

done in 2007. May serve as another supply route to Afghanistan.

4. Khyber Pass: Most supplies to U.S. and NATO troops come

through Pakistan. Increasing number of attacks in the area mean

the US army is looking for back-up routes.

 

The well-known American expert on Central Asian studies from Columbia University, Alexander Cooley, has been forced to admit: "When in 2001 the U.S. established a base in Kyrgyzstan, it offered a $2 million rental fee, and negotiated a contract with friends and relatives of former president Askar Akaev for the delivery of fuel and maintenance … American officials couldn't understand that they were stuffing the pockets of Kyrgyzstani bureaucrats." Mr. Cooley criticized the way administrators at the Manas Air Base interact with the people of Bishkek, who believe that all the benefits from the American base go to Kyrgyz bosses and contractors.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Criticism from Defense Secretary Robert Gates was aimed in a different direction: "I think the Russians are trying to have it both ways with respect to Afghanistan in terms of Manas," the Pentagon boss said yesterday. "Moscow is making positive noises about working with us in Afghanistan, while they seem to be working against us with respect to the airfield, which plays an important role for us." A few hours later, after arriving in Krakow [Poland] for an informal meeting of NATO defense ministers, Gates said the United States, "may consider increasing the fees for Manas to preserve the option to continue using it, but there are limits" [quote translated from Russian].  

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

These words by Gates, apparently, are just the signal so long awaited by Bishkek's White House, that is, the residence of the president and government of Kyrgyzstan. And now, no matter how events evolve, the main beneficiary will be the president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev. On the one hand, having made the decision on Manas, he managed to obtain $2 billion in credit from Russia. On the other - like a "bullying" political stock broker - with his decision, he managed to raise the stock price of his country in Washington. Now, whenever presidential elections are called in Kyrgyzstan - whether this year or next - President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s election for a second term is assured.

 

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US February 27, 9:03pm]

 




























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