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    U.S. starts relocation from Manas transit center - AzerNews
    http://www.azernews.az/analysis/60919.html

    The U.S. Department of Defense has begun the process of relocation from the transit center at Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan.
    The U.S. plans to complete the transfer of areas and facilities to the Kyrgyz Government by July 2014.
    “The U.S. appreciates the support provided by the Kyrgyz people to U.S. forces and coalition efforts to counter the threat of terrorism and to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan and the region and respects the decision of the Kyrgyz Government to end hosting the transit center after more than 12 years,” the Pentagon said on October 18.
    (…)
    The Kyrgyz parliament has supported a bill on the denunciation of the agreement between the governments of the Kyrgyzstan and U.S. on Manas transit center. According to the bill, the transit center halts its activity in Kyrgyzstan on July 11, 2014.
    (…)
    According to the reports published by experts, the first main reason for Kyrgyzstan’s such a decision was primarily a response to Russia’s decision to write off $500 million of Kyrgyzstan’s debt. The second reason was the promise to build two giant hydropower stations on the Naryn River. The last why is the Washington’s decision to dismiss criminal charges against former president’s son Maksim Bakiyev who was indicted on crime of defraud.
    (…)
    Following the withdrawal of the U.S. military, Kyrgyzstan intends to make the airport an entirely civilian facility.
    However, service and cheap aviation fuel are needed for the hub. Kyrgyzstan is not able to supply the aviation fuel; therefore, negotiations are underway with potential investors.
    Negotiations on creating a hub in the transit center are underway with China, Turkey, Russia and other countries.
    China, which has great interests in the Central Asian region, has the intention of creating a civil hub in the Manas airport.
    Turkey is also ready to assist Kyrgyzstan to transform the Manas airport to a civil hub. Tayyip Erdogan Recep, Turkish Prime Minister, confirmed his country’s intension during his last visit to the country.
    Meanwhile, the U.S. diplomats are still hopeful that if Washington ups the rent, they might be able to keep Manas again.