"The agreement creates a legal base for the operation of the Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan and meets Russia's long-term interests," deputy chairman of the Federation Council's committee for CIS affairs Andrei Ishchuk told reporters.
Signed on September 22, 2003, the treaty is valid for 15 years and will be automatically renewed for a five-year period, if neither party notifies the other in writing six months in advance.
The treaty will come into force after the Russian president signs it.
Russia set up its airbase in Kyrgyzstan after the Council of the Treaty on Collective Security in Central Asia gave its approval on May 25, 2001. The defense ministers from the treaty's member states, which include Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, confirmed in November of 2002 that they had agreed to deploy Russian rapid reaction forces at the Kant airbase located 30 kilometers to the east of the capital Bishkek.
Since 1956, pilots from the developing countries in Asia, Africa, Central and South America have been trained at Kant. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the late president of Syria Hafiz Assad were trained as pilots at the airbase.
Today Kant has the capacity to receive both front-line aviation and military transport planes. Once the deployment is over, the airbase will accommodate Su-27 fighters, Su-25 assault planes, L-39 training aircraft, an An-26 transportation plane and a Mi-8 helicopter.
The Kant airbase will also be used to defend the united CIS airspace and to protect Kyrgyzstan's air borders.
