Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 8 / Trend, J.Nasibova/
It is still doubtful who is going to use a civilian transit centre in Bishkek after U.S. leaves, U.S. expert on Central Asia, Bruce Pannier, working at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, believes.
"The big question is who will use a civilian transit center in Bishkek? Kyrgyzstan's geographical location is not favourable. There probably are some interested parties who would use such a center but it is difficult to imagine the center could be a profitable venture. I would go so far as to say such a center would not make as much money as the U.S. government is currently paying Kyrgyzstan for use of Manas", Pannier told Trend on Friday
According to him, Russia has its own routes, including road and railway, to China and there is no need to pass through a third country and so, no need to pay tariffs, duties, etc to a third party. Similarly, Russia does need a cargo transit center on air routes from Russia to the Asian Subcontinent - India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and so on.
"I have seen reports that Russia believes the center could be changed to a purely civilian operation, a transit point for sending cargo. I suppose it could on routes between China and West. I cannot imagine Russia would consider using such a route itself except symbolically, as a gesture of good ties between Moscow and Bishkek, " mentioned expert.
As he mentioned, it is well known the Kremlin wishes the U.S. forces out of Manas.
"I have seen reports that Russia is preparing to send the Kyrgyz military weapons and equipment worth as much as, according to one report, $1 billion (probably weapons and equipment discarded from Russian units that are receiving new, state-of-the-art weaponry and equipment). Apparently most or all of this military equipment will be simply given to Kyrgyzstan. The condition for this shipment seems to be the Kyrgyz government keeping its word and closing the U.S. base at Manas," concluded the expert.
As mentioned the expert, over 11 years the U.S. military has been using the airport. But not much will remain after U.S. forces leave.
"I've been flying to Manas Airport since 1992 and very little has changed," said Pannier.
As he noted, the main terminal of the airport has been renovated, but that was already almost finished before 2001, the former Intourist area has been changed a great deal but into a VIP area (I've been there when it was Intourist but never since it became the VIP area). The runways have been improved and, according to reports, the traffic control systems for air traffic controllers have been improved, storage facilities, really the key for any "transit" center, have been renovated and modernized with U.S. help.
"The area where U.S. troops stay and work is what we call "pre-fabricated" housing structures. They are easy and quick to assemble and take apart and they will likely be taken away by U.S. forces when they stop using the base, as will the fences that surround it. So once U.S. forces leave there will not be much left behind to show they were ever there," mentioned the expert.