The U.S. Ganci airbase at Manas airport, located 30 kilometers (17 miles) east of Bishkek, accommodates 1,000 U.S. troops along with nine refueling and cargo planes supporting antiterrorism operations in Afghanistan.
The sum applies strictly to the use of facilities at the base, and is part of the overall payments the U.S. has agreed to make for the hosting of U.S. troops in the Central Asian republic since 2001. Some sources claim payments may total as much as $70 million, including sums allocated for health care and the fight against drug-trafficking.
Although Russia has encouraged Bishkek to demand the withdrawal of American troops, the impoverished nation of five million needs U.S. support and the military base, which has generated jobs and is a strong contributor to the Kyrgyz economy.
Russia established in October 2003 its own airbase in Kant, about 20 miles west of the Kyrgyz capital, which currently deploys about 400 troops, including 250 officers and NCOs and 150 conscripts, as well as 20 combat and transport planes, helicopters, and L-39 trainers.
Kalimbetova said at a government meeting on the state budget that Kyrgyzstan has not charged Russia, and has no plans to impose charges for the use of the Kant airbase, because the Russian troops are stationed at Kant under an agreement in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) - a regional security bloc in Central Asia, which also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
"In addition, [Kyrgyzstan's] debt to Russia totals $184 million, and in these circumstances, to demand rent [for the airbase] would be rather inappropriate," the Kyrgyz finance minister said.
