Issue 4353. Last Updated: 03/19/2010

Kremlin Says Kyrgyz Deal No Surprise

Reuters
CAIRO, Egypt -- A Kyrgyz deal with the United States to keep a U.S. air base open was agreed with Russia, a Kremlin official said Thursday.

"We support all steps aimed at stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan," said the official accompanying President Dmitry Medvedev in Egypt.

But Kommersant quoted an unidentified Russian diplomat as saying Moscow felt that it had been tricked by Kyrgyzstan over the base and would make an "adequate response" to the deal.

The United States has agreed to pay $180 million to keep open the Manas air base after haggling with Kyrgyzstan since February, when the country secured pledges of $2 billion from Russia and announced its closure.

Kyrgyzstan's ruling party said Wednesday that it had approved the agreement with the United States to keep the Manas air base open.



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