Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 17 / Trend, V. Zhavoronkova/
NATO's durable presence in Afghanistan will determine the fate of Manas Transit Center based in Kyrgyzstan.
"Further fate of the Manas Transit Center will be determined within the framework of CIS should NATO decides to stay in Afghanistan after 2014," Kyrgyz acting Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov told journalists on Monday, CA-News reports.
The U.S. base's presence in Kyrgyzstan can be prolonged only if the situation in Afghanistan remains unstable and NATO presence in the country is prolonged. In this case CIS will determine the fate of Manas.
According to U.S.-Kyrgyz agreement, the U.S.-led Transit Centre may remain in Bishkek by withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan in 2014.
Transit Center at Manas is NATO installation at Manas International Airport, near Bishkek primarily operated by the U.S. Air Force. The base was opened in December 2001 to support U.S. military operations in the ongoing war in Afghanistan. It has hosted forces from several other International Security Assistance Force member states as well. The base is a transit point for US military personnel coming and going from Afghanistan.