Kyrgyzstan: Holbrooke Reveals Manas Base Renewal Discussions Underway

US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, says Kyrgyzstan will continue to lease Manas Transit Center to the US military.

The agreement, which is valid for a year, was signed after much diplomatic wrangling in July 2009. Under the new terms, the United States reportedly is paying $60 million for the facility, a massive increase on the $17-million annual fee it paid previously.

"We will renew the arrangements in the next few weeks, and I wanted to launch that process. We've very grateful to the Kyrgyz's Government for that support," Holbrooke said at a State Department press briefing on March 2.

Commenting on his recent whistle-stop tour of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, Holbrooke added he had discussed Northern Distribution Network-related issues with the leaders of all four states, including over-flight rights for military cargos with Kazakhstan.