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Bishkek Seeks Huge Rent Increase from US Military Base

Iran Materials 24 July 2006 13:48 (UTC +04:00)

(zaman.com) - The US has agreed to pay an enormously higher rental price in order not to lose its Kyrgyzstani Ganci Military Base, in the vicinity of the Bishkek Manas Airport. The US had to abandon its military base in Uzbekistan last year.

The US administration formerly paid Bishkek $2 million annually for the military base in Bishkek. For this year, the price has increased to $150 million, reports Trend.

Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev had demanded a 100-fold increase in rent for Ganci.

Kyrgyz Security Council secretary Miroslav Niyazov said his country did not consider the base a source of money but accepted it on the grounds of securing peace in Afghanistan and to counter drug trafficking operations.

Niyazov said the base would operate until the task of coalition forces ends in Afghanistan. The US will reportedly give four helicopters to Kyrgyzstan for the prevention of terrorism.

Until now, Washington paid Kyrgyzstan $7000 per flight.

Prior to the closing of Hanabat military base, Uzbekistan was given $23 million annually, which was considered a very low price.

President Bakiyev warned they could close the US military base if a satisfactory price could not be agreed upon.

America has nearly 1000 soldiers in Manas Base. Its used to launch operations into Afghanistan.

At its summit in Astana on July 5, 2005, the six-nation group led by Russia and the Chinese Shanghai Cooperation Organization called on the coalition forces led by the US to close their military bases in Central Asia.

Before the agreement upon the price, the Kyrgyz president announced that if the price of the base was not satisfactorily increased, they would close the base and drive the coalition forces out of the country.

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