Posted on 06/24/2010 12:05:32 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The Russian and American governments are discussing a bilateral government deal, under which Russian state-controlled oil companies Rosneft and Gazpromneft would supply kerosene directly to the Manas Transit Centre, a crucial logistics hub for the war in Afghanistan.
"Ultimately it's in the security interests of Russia for the US to be using this base for its operations in Afghanistan, but under a very, very strict mandate," said Ana Jelenkovic, Central Asia analyst at Eurasia Group.
"If Russia is able to monitor the destination of the fuel, it limits the ability of the US to stay there in the base long-term. It makes the Americans staying there at Manas contingent always on some Russian support."
The deal would replace the controversial previous arrangement, which the Kyrgyz government claims allowed the former President's son, Maxim Bakiyev, to make up to $8m a month in profits.
The Kyrgyz government claims that Maxim Bakiyev, who was granted temporary asylum in Britain last week, controlled the six Kyrgyz subcontractors who supplied Mina Corp, the Gibraltar-registered company which holds the contract to supply fuel to Manas.
Mr Bakiyev has been blamed by the interim government for provoking the riots that killed up to 2,000 people in southern Kyrgyzstan last week.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I’m confused, why are we even bothering with this airbase if we’re pulling out in July?
Ping
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