Kyrgyz, Afghan Ministers Discuss U.S. Air Base
June 05, 2006
U.S. troops at Manas Air Base on their way to Afghanistan (file photo) (USDoD)
Isakov told Abdul Rahim Wardak over the phone that the consultations took place "in a benevolent and constructive spirit."
The United States has been maintaining an air base in Kyrgyzstan since 2001 as part of its operations in nearby Afghanistan.
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev has recently warned Washington that it should pay much more for the use of the facilities or leave the country.
The two sides last week met in Bishkek
to discuss Bakiev's demands. The talks ended inconclusively, with the U.S. delegation returning home for consultations.
Bakiev today said the negotiations should be completed "soon" and pledged they would "take Kyrgyzstan's economic and ecological concerns into account."
(AKIpress, Kabar)