The Hindu : International : Uzbekistan steps up pressure on U.S. to close base

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Saturday, Jul 09, 2005

International

International

Uzbekistan steps up pressure on U.S. to close base

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: Uzbekistan is stepping up pressure on the United States to withdraw its air base set up in the Central Asian country for operations in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The Uzbek Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Americans were allowed to use the air base at Karshi-Khanabad "in direct connection with the military operation in northern Afghanistan" for the overthrow of the Taliban regime after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.

"Any other variants for U.S. military presence on the territory of Uzbekistan in the future were not considered by the Uzbek leadership," the ministry said.

"These fundamental principles must be placed at the centre of any discussions about prospects for the future presence of the U.S. military contingent at the Khanabad air field."

Uzbekistan also said that the United States had not paid takeoff and landing fees, as well as compensation for security services, new infrastructure, ecological damage and inconvenience to the local population.

The statement was issued two days after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation called for the United States and its coalition allies in Afghanistan to set a date for withdrawing their military bases from Central Asia.

Last month Uzbekistan introduced severe restrictions on American flights from the Khanabad base forcing the U.S. command to redeploy some aircraft to Afghanistan.

Kyrgyzstan has joined Uzbekistan in calling on Washington to shut down its air base near the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

"Part of anti-terrorist coalition"

"All of us are part of the anti-terrorist coalition, including our country. However, there is a time limit for everybody who comes to stay somewhere," acting Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva said on July 6.

Washington has rejected the demands. The U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan, where the U.S. military also use air base facilities, said the U.S. military bases in the region continue to give active support to the continuing operations of the coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The bases "have been set up with express consent of the governments of the receiving states and will operate till each of the countries regards the facilities as a basis for its national security," the RIA Novosti news agency quoted the U.S. Embassy in Tajikstain as saying in a statement issued on Friday.

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