Kyrgyzstan is not thinking of shutting down a NATO air base in the country, a Kyrgyz official was quoted by Interfax as saying on Thursday.
According to the report, when asked about a comment that the Kyrgyz government is thinking of shutting down the Manas Air Force Base, the unidentified official said the government is not considering the issue, nor has it drafted any documents concerning the abolishment of the base.
Kyrgyzstan and the United States signed a treaty after the "9.11" terror attacks, agreeing to deploy anti-terror coalition forces in the central Asia country to fight terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. To close the Manas Air Base, the official said, the Kyrgyz government must first abolish the treaty, and inform the U.S. government six months in advance.
The U.S. established the air base at the Manas international airport near the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek after launching the Afghan war in 2001. About 1,000 U.S and NATO soldiers currently are stationed at the base.
Source: Xinhua
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