Kyrgyzstan, US sign agreement on jet fuel for Manas transit centre.

8/2 Tass 167

BISHKEK, February 8 (Itar-Tass) - Kyrgyzstan and the United States
have signed an agreement on jet fuel supplies for the U.S. transit centre
in Manas near Bishkek.
Kyrgyz Energy Minister Askarbek Shadiyev and U.S. Charge d'Affairs
Larry Memmott put their signatures to the document.
"Under the agreement half of supplies will be carried out by our side
and another half - by Mina Corporation," Shadiyev said. "The agreement
will be effective during the presence of this military facility in the
republic."
In compliance with the agreement Kyrgyzstan has the right to define
jet fuel volumes, a supplier and a supply operator on its own.
Bishkek hopes to refill the republic's budget by 60 million U.S.
dollars a year through jet fuel supplies to the air base. These funds will
be injected into the development of the republic's education and
healthcare system.
The U.S. air base was opened in the Manas airport in December 2001
within the framework of the UN mandate to support Operation Enduring
Freedom in Afghanistan. Eighteen months ago the Manas air base was renamed
into the transit centre after the lengthy negotiations between Washington
and Bishkek.
-0-isk/usn


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