Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Kyrgyzstan: Russia to Double Troop Numbers at Kant Airbase in Kyrgyzstan

Created: 13.07.2005 14:30 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 17:31 MSK, 1 hour 42 minutes ago


MosNews


Russia is going to double troop numbers at its Kant airbase in Kyrgyzstan, Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying ahead of ratification of a bilateral agreement on the base in the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament.

On July 8 it was ratified by the lower house, the State Duma. Under the agreement, signed in September 2003 the base, 30 kilometers east of the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, is designed to protect both countries’ sovereignty and provide security in cooperation with Kyrgyzstan’s armed forces. Russia’s Defense Ministry is responsible for combat readiness and training at the base. The personnel and property is inviolable and is not subject to arrest in any form.

The agreement is valid for 15 years and can be automatically prolonged for further five-year periods.

Earlier this year Russian announced plans to supply more combat planes to Kant.


http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/07/13/kantbase.shtml