WINDHOEK, June 25 (RIA Novosti) - The creation of a U.S. transit center in Kyrgyzstan will contribute to the fight against international terrorism, the Russian president said on Thursday.
The Kyrgyz parliament ratified on Wednesday agreements concluded by Kyrgyzstan and the U.S. on June 22 on the establishment of a transit center at Manas airport to provide support for operations conducted by U.S.-led international forces in nearby Afghanistan.
"I believe this will only benefit the common cause, the common fight against terrorism," Dmitry Medvedev said.
In February, the ex-Soviet Central Asian state ordered the shutdown of the base, which has been used to support U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan since 2001. The decision was widely seen as being influenced by Russia, which had just granted Kyrgyzstan a large financial aid package.
The new agreement has been signed for a 1-year term and envisions annual U.S. payments of $60 million to the Kyrgyz budget for the use of the center - more than triple the former sum of $17.4 million.
Washington will also allocate $36.6 million for the construction of additional aircraft parking and storage facilities, and $30 million for new navigation and traffic control equipment at Manas airport.
The two countries also agreed to take joint measures to ensure the security of the airport perimeter and to form checkpoints.
Initially, the new deal provoked an angry reaction from Moscow.
Business daily Kommersant quoted a Russian Foreign Ministry source as saying Kyrgyzstan had played a "mean trick" in deciding to let the United States keep using the airbase. He warned there would be "an appropriate response" from Moscow.
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's decision in February to close the base, which is staffed by about 1,500 personnel, was seen as a victory for Russia in its rivalry with the West for influence in the region.
