Krygyz leader says money behind Manas closing - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Webtools

Click here for Military Times Webtools
Print Email
Bookmark and Share
http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_kyrgyzstan_manas_021109/

Krygyz leader says money behind Manas closing


The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Feb 11, 2009 6:44:13 EST

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Kyrgyzstan’s president says the decision to close a key U.S. base was taken for purely economic reasons.

President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said Wednesday that repeated appeals to the United States to pay more for rental of the base went unheeded.

Bakiyev shocked Washington last week when he announced the closure of the Manas air base, which is a crucial staging post for coalition operations in Afghanistan.

Announcement of the closure came shortly after Russia offered to give the impoverished Central Asian nation more than $2.1 billion in loans and aid. Moscow has long resented U.S. military presence in the former Soviet nation.

The U.S. began using the Manas base in December 2001.

Videos You May Be Interested In

Leave a Comment





Contests and Promotions


Free Stickers


promo Click here and we'll send you a FREE AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, VIETNAM, or DESERT STORM sticker.

MIl-MALL

Browse and buy some of the awesome products we have at Mil-mall.com

Military Times Gear Shop

Military Discounts


Save on your purchases!
In honor of your military service, you can find regular and name brand products at a special discount.