Bishkek proposes another military base. Moscow refuses

«Bishkek suggests the Russian Federation to deploy another military base in Kyrgyzstan, but the one that already exists is enough for Moscow,» State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Grigory Karasin said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

«Russia, unlike some others states known to you, doesn’t aim to fill the entire world with military bases. We don’t pursue quantity. The decisive factor for us is the expediency of placing such facilities abroad in the context of the need to address specific tasks related to ensuring the security of the Russian Federation and our closest allies,» he said, answering the question whether negotiations are being held with Bishkek on the deployment of the second military base in Kyrgyzstan at the border with Tajikistan.

«The capabilities of the Russian military bases in Central Asia (in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) can cope with existing and potential threats in the region. The Russian side intends to focus its efforts on strengthening the combat capabilities of these bases, improving the infrastructure, increasing combat training and coordinating the actions of personnel, including in cooperation with the forces of our partners,» Karasin added.

Note of 24.kg news agency. In September 2003, Russia concluded an agreement for 15 years with Kyrgyzstan on the deployment of an aviation unit inf Kant town under the auspices of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The official opening of the airbase took place on October 23, 2003. Its main task is to support from the air the actions of the military units of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of CSTO.