U.S. continuing operations at Manas air base today in Kyrgyztan despite media reports that closure of the base was final

Al-Masakin News Agency

By Edward Campbell

Missoula, Feb. 6 (Al-Masakin)–The United States continued its operations at the air base in Manas, Kyrgyztan despite media rumors to the effect that Kygyz decision to close the base was final.  According to acting State Department deputy Spokesman Gordon Duguid at today’s Daily Press Briefing despite Kygyz government officials statements to the press that the base was to close, the State Department has as of yet not received any official notification from the Kygyz government as to the disposition of the base and that the United States continued its operations there today.

“There are government officials from Kyrgyzstan who have made statements in the press. We have seen those statements. However, we have not received our official notification about the status of the disposition of the Manas base. We proceed with our operations in Manas today and we will continue to do so as we try to continue our discussions with the Kyrgyz Government about our presence there,” the acting Deputy Spokesman said today.

He said that negotiations are on-going both at Manas and at Bishkek, the Kygyz capital, but the Secretary of State has not been directly involved in those negotiations.  The spokesman also confirmed that the United States considers it a priority to remain there, but is considering other options such as cooperation with Tajikistan and has undertaken negotiations with the Tajik government about developing a line of communication from there to Afghanistan.

The Secretary of the Kyrgyz Security Council has been quoted by the press as saying, “The air base’s fate has been decided…I see no reason why the air base should remain in place now that this decision has been taken. We are not holding any talks on this.”

” That may or may not reflect the final deliberations in the Kyrgyz Government. We have been in discussion with the government. They have not responded to us with a request to close down our operations there, and therefore we proceed as normal until we receive that,” Mr. Duguid replied.

EHC / EHC

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Al-Masakin News Agency

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