18 July 2006
U.S., Kyrgyz Republic Reach Deal on Manas Coalition Airbase
Both countries are firmly committed to the war on terrorism
Washington -- The United States and the Kyrgyz Republic announced July 14 that they have reached a deal on continued coalition use of the Manas Air Base to support the ongoing war on terrorism in Afghanistan.
The coalition has maintained a presence at the Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan since December 2001 under a United Nations mandate to support coalition efforts in Afghanistan. The base is known informally as Ganci Air Base, after Peter Ganci, the chief of the New York City Fire Department who was killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
In a joint statement, the two countries said they have been “committed partners in the war on terrorism.”
“Both countries have been the victim of terrorism and acknowledge the importance of international cooperation to combat this global threat,” the joint statement said, going on to note that Kyrgyzstan has been a strong and reliable coalition partner through its hosting of operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for the past four-and-a-half years.
The statement did not mention any direct compensation for continued use of the air base, which U.S. military officials have said is critical for supporting coalition operations in neighboring Afghanistan. “The decision on the continued use of the Manas Air Base should be viewed in the context of the larger, robust bilateral relationship,” the statement said, noting that since the independence of the Kyrgyz Republic, the United States has contributed more than $850 million to support democracy, economic development, humanitarian projects and security initiatives.
“The United States expects to provide more than $150 million in total assistance and compensation over the next year, pending approval by the U.S. Congress,” the statement added.
It said the U.S. government also expects to compensate equitably the Kyrgyz government and Kyrgyz businesses for goods, services and support of coalition operations. Kyrgyz Security Council Secretary Miroslav Niyazov and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense James MacDougall signed a Protocol of Intentions July 14 to affirm this understanding.
While visiting Kyrgyzstan in October 2005, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States “has made very clear that we are not seeking a permanent set of bases in Central Asia. We are operating here to support the war on terrorism, which is important to us and important to the region because the terrorists threaten both of us.” (See related article.)
At that time, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Rice issued a joint expression of support for the presence of coalition forces in the Kyrgyz Republic “until the mission of fighting terrorism in Afghanistan is completed.”
Coincidental to the negotiations over the air base, two U.S. diplomats were expelled from Kyrgyzstan. The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek issued a statement July 11 denying reported allegations that two recently expelled U.S. diplomats “engaged in inappropriate activities.”
“U.S. diplomats have been accused of having inappropriate contact with the leaders of non-governmental organizations [NGOs],” the statement said. “This can be seen as an attempt to intimidate embassies and silence the voice of civil society. The United States will continue to maintain contact with all sectors of Kyrgyz society, including government officials, opposition, and leaders of non-governmental and community organizations.” (See text of statement.)
Kyrgyz NGOs reacted with outrage and concern to the charges against the diplomats, according to the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR). On July 12, Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the decision to expel the diplomats was made on the basis of reliable evidence indicating the two had interfered in the country’s domestic affairs. (See IWPR article by Taalaibek Amanov for further details.)
But the dispute over the expulsion of the diplomats did not derail the air base negotiations.
“The United States and the Kyrgyz Republic are firmly committed to the war on terrorism and improving the security of Afghanistan, Central Asia and the broader region,” the joint statement concluded. “Stemming from this, the two countries have decided to continue their important cooperation at the Manas Coalition Air Base.”
The U.S.-Kyrgyz joint statement is available on the Web site of the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
