Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 28 / Trend V. Zhavoronkova/
It is too early to discuss a possible closure of Russian Kant military base in Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz expert Sergei Masaulov said.
"It is too early to say that Russian Kant military base will withdraw from Kyrgyzstan," Masaulov told Trend over phone from Bishkek.
Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev has called for Russian air base in the country to be closed, saying neither Russia nor Kyrgyzstan need it.
"The current situation where a Russian military base is not fulfilling its obligations and even does not pay for the lease does not suit us ... There are many conditions, but the main thing is that the lease should be paid, one way or another," he said in an interview with Russian media.
Expert thinks that one should consider Atambayev's statement in the context, that Kyrgyzstan is an independent country and is able to decide the future of the objects within its territory itself.
The future of the objects like Manas and Kant bases should be determined due to its aim, expert added.
"When the reason of its establishment disappears, the object should be closed," Masaulov said.
The Kant base was established within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and it will continue fulfilling in function on ensuring Kyrgyzstan's security, expert added.
Russian air base Kant began operating in Kyrgyzstan, after Moscow signed a contract with Bishkek to place aircraft units within the CSTO on its territory in 2003.
The U.S. air base, renamed as the Transit Center, was established at the Manas International Airport in Bishkek in December 2001, and today it involves about 1,200 soldiers. The base is an important part of the NATO Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan. The agreement on deployment of the U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan is valid until 2014.