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Kyrgyzstan profits more not closing U.S. Manas air base

Politics Materials 17 January 2009 11:58 (UTC +04:00)
Kyrgyzstan profits more not closing U.S. Manas air base

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 17/ Trend , V. Zhavoronkova, E. Tariverdiyeva/ Experts say it is more appropriate for Kyrgyzstan to keep Manas air base of the U.S. air forces in its territory rather than to close it in a bid to receive loan worth $2 billion from Russia.

Recently, the media has launched discussions over possible closure of the Manas U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan. Reuters reported on Jan. 13 that Kyrgyz President is going to close the air base quoting a source close to administration of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

However, Commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East and Central Asia General David Petreus dismissed these reports as a Pentagon official, BBC reported.

Closure of the air base is discussed in public for already four times. Manas air base was involved in numerous scandals since 2001: American ammunition was uncovered. Kyrgyz citizen was shot in its area and there were suspicions about transit of drugs through it.

Russia plans to issue $2 billion loan for Kyrgyzstan. The planned closure of the air base is attributed to President Bakiyev's attempts to "persuade" Russian leadership prior his visit to Moscow in early February.

Russian expert says Kyrgyzstan needs loan due to hard economic situation.

Kyrgyzstan needs money. It has budget deficit. Foreign borrowings total around $2 billion while the public budget is a little over $1 billion, independent Russian political scientist Stanislaw Pritchin said.

One of Kyrgyzstan's major problems is shortage of energy which leads to power outage of 12 hours each day. 

Russian loan will probably used to build new power electric stations which country needs at the very moment, expert on CIS Pritchin said.

"Bakiyev has no other chances to find the necessary sum. Kyrgyzstan will not be able to handle financial difficulties on its own on the backdrop of global financial crisis," he said.

"Closing air base is the only chance to get money from Russia. Hard economic situation can force Bakiyev to make such exchange," research fellow at Sociology and Political Science Chair of the M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University Pritchin told Trend in a telephone conversation.

However, Kyrgyz expert says it would unreasonable to borrow a loan from Russia.

"This is unreasonable to borrow additional $2 billion loan while Kyrgyzstan already has foreign debt of $2 billion given the fact that Russia already has Kyrgyzstan under its thumb," Kyrgyz political scientist Orozbek Moldaliyev said to Trend in a telephone conversation from Bishkek.

Kyrgyzstan owes Russia over $170 million.

Presence of Manas air base gives Kyrgyzstan a number of advantages, Moldaliyev said.

"Kyrgyzstan receives around $20 million each year from U.S. air base of anti-terrorism coalition let alone other advantages," Kyrgyz political scientist said.  

Moldaliyev said also local residents are employed in the base. Kyrgyz companies cooperate with it by supplying fuel, food and building materials.

Kyrgyzstan needs to maintain good relations with the United States.

"With the U.S. assistance, Kyrgyzstan was included in the program of Millennium Challenges last year which will render financial support to the country. It is unreasonable to refuse it," Moldaliyev added. 

U.S. Manas air base aims to fight terrorism in Afghanistan within the Indestructible Freedom operation. 

It is useful neither for the U.S. for nor Russia to close this base as they fear revival of Taliban movement, U.S. expert on Central Asia Robert Freedman said to Trend by e-mail.

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