It's final: Kyrgyz parliament approves U.S. Manas base deal

(RIA NOVOSTI) -- The Kyrgyz parliament approved on Wednesday a deal allowing the U.S. to continue using its Manas airbase for supply and troop transits to Afghanistan.

In February, the ex-Soviet Central Asian state ordered the shutdown of the base, which has been used to support U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan since 2001. The decision was widely seen as being influenced by Russia, which had just granted Kyrgyzstan a large financial aid package.

However, Kyrgyzstan and the U.S. signed on Monday an agreement to establish a transit center at Manas international airport "to address the situation in and around Afghanistan, which is beginning to present a real threat to Central Asia, and Kyrgyzstan in particular." Rental charges for the base have more than tripled under the new deal.

The decision provoked an angry reaction from Moscow.

Business daily Kommersant quoted a Russian Foreign Ministry source as saying Kyrgyzstan had played a "mean trick" in deciding to let the United States keep using the airbase. He warned there would be "an appropriate response" from Moscow.

The new agreement has been signed for a 1-year term and envisions annual U.S. payments of $60 million to the Kyrgyz budget for the use of the center. Washington will also allocate $36 million for the construction of additional aircraft parking and storage facilities.

The two countries also agreed to take joint measures to ensure the security of the airport perimeter and to form checkpoints.

President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's decision in February to close the base, which is staffed by about 1,500 personnel, was seen as a victory for Russia in its rivalry with the West for influence in the region.

Bakiyev said the closure was due to Washington's refusal to pay higher rent charges for the base and public discontent over the conduct of U.S. military personnel. He denied a link between the decision and the Russian aid package.