Kyrgyz President: We are open for talks on the use of Manas air base

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“The doors are open and we are ready for talks with the USA on the future use of Manas military air base”,-Kyrgyzstan's president Kurmanbek Bakiyev told BBC on March, 4.

President believes the resumption of negotiations would require different conditions for the use of Manas and would take place in “a new format”.

“We should be respected more. Our partners — be it the United States or Russia — should listen to what we have to say”- he said in his BBC interview.

It is worth mentioning last February the Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev signed the bill on the closure of the American military base in Manas. Once Kyrgyz authorities issue an eviction notice, the United States will have 180 days to leave the base. Earlier, Bakiev announced during his visit to Moscow : “The airbase in Manas was set up in 2001 after the start of the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, but at that time the question was about one or two years of lease. Already eight years passes since than”.