MOSCOW, September 5 (RIA Novosti) - The withdrawal of the American military base in Kyrgyzstan will be contingent on the situation in Afghanistan, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said at a news conference Monday.
The question of the U.S. withdrawal from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan was raised at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's last summit in Astana.
"Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan provided their airports for U.S. troops in 2001, while Russia and Kazakhstan provided their air space [for anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan]," the president said. "The situation is known to be improving. When it is settled, the deadline for the base's withdrawal will be considered."
Bakiyev said the issue had not been raised during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday and denied rumors about plans to set up a Chinese military base in Kyrgyzstan.
"Although somebody might be holding such talks behind my back, China has not even attempted to make proposals like this to me personally," Bakiyev said.
However, he did not rule out the possibility of establishing a regional anti-terrorist center in Kyrgyzstan.
"Densely-populated Central Asian republics with weak economies and low living standards are suitable for organizations seeking to destabilize the situation and pursuing religious extremism. These are dangerous regions," Bakiyev said.
