Russia and Kyrgyzstan have settled all disputes surrounding the creation of the United Russian Military Base in Kyrgyzstan, deputy chief of the General Staff Col. Gen. Valery Gerasimov said on Thursday.
"All the controversies have been settled during talks. The agreement will certainly be signed," Gerasimov said, adding that he signing of the final memorandum is scheduled for Friday.
The United Military Base will unite four Russian military facilities already deployed in Kyrgyzstan, including an airbase in the city of Kant, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) outside the capital of Bishkek, a naval communication center, a torpedo testing ground and a seismic station.
The deal was shelved in April after former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who had been discussing the issue with Russia, was overthrown in a coup in April.
Gerasimov did not say whether Kyrgyzstan would raise the rent for the Russian military facilities, which currently stands at $4.5 million a year.
The United States also has a military base in Kyrgyzstan, which it uses as a transit base for sending troops to Afghanistan.
MOSCOW, September 23 (RIA Novosti)
