General David Petraeus, commander of US Central Command, is visiting Bishkek for the next two days and presumably the status of the Manas Transit Center is at the top of the agenda. But Petraeus also appears likely to have to deal with the reaction to news of the new anti-terror training center in Batken:
The visit, which was not open to the media, comes a day after U.S. diplomats confirmed the United States would help fund an antiterror training center in the southern Kyrgyz town of Batken next year.
A statement on the Kyrgyz president's website said Petraeus thanked Kyrgyzstan for its support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. It said the U.S. general also informed the Kyrgyz president about the situation in Afghanistan and efforts to stabilize the war-torn country.
Bakiev said that "all the main challenges and security threats to Central Asia" come from Afghanistan, adding, "Therefore, Kyrgyzstan is interested in providing security and stability in this country, and it will continue to offer its endeavor for rebuilding Afghanistan – along with the international community."
The Kyrgyz plan to set up a U.S.-funded training center in Batken might upset Russia, as the Russian-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization announced its intention last year to build a military base in southern Kyrgyzstan.
Aleksandr Knyazev, a Bishkek-based political analyst, calls Bishkek's decision to allow such a center to be built in Batken a "most irresponsible act," as the Kyrgyz economy depends on Russian investment to a great extent. In 2009, Russia promised to invest $2 billion in the Kyrgyz economy, including key hydropower projects.
"Such a demonstrative act by the Kyrgyz side to agree – or to initiate, most likely – to [build a U.S.-funded counterterrorism center] is like throwing down a challenge to Russia and China," Knyazev says. "From a purely military point of view, any American military base on Kyrgyz territory cannot threaten Russian interests. Russia dominates in this region in any case. It's clear. But [Bishkek's plan] is only an irritation of a political nature for Russia, and a reason to withdraw from investment projects."
Meanwhile, he will also be getting pushback from the Council of Kyrgyz Aksakals, a semi-official traditional association of elders, which also held a press conference today to air several grievances about the base:
The Council of Kyrgyz Aksakals demands to close Manas Transit Center Airbase and prohibit military flights until withdrawal of all American troops. Omurbek Umetaliev said at the press-conference today.
By his words the Transit Center Airbase is the main reason of political somersaults occurring in Kyrgyzstan since 2002. “We consider existence of military bases belonging to two powerful states with many opposite aspects in international policy is inadmissible. If presence of Russian military base is motivated historically then military presence of the U.S.A. and NATO is a threat of our national interests”, Omurbek Umetaliev said.
By Omurbai Narbekov, the member if the Council of Aksakals words, “today inhabitants of Afghanistan die from bombs dropped by war-planes departed from territory of KR. Do Kyrgyzstanis need that? We have collected more than 250 signatures for base withdrawal and not going to stop. If it would be necessary we will organize meetings”.
“Presence of American militaries in the civil airport “Manas” under the mask of Transit Center damaged the international image of Kyrgyzstan and the stained sacred name of Manas. In addition, the roar of planes at nights is disturbing and we are exasperated by dropping fuel on the fields of Chui region”, Omurbai Narbekov concluded.
Joshua Kucera, a senior correspondent, is Eurasianet's former Turkey/Caucasus editor and has written for the site since 2007.
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