U.S. Still Talking To Kyrgyzstan About Manas Base

The Pentagon said on Thursday the United States is still in talks with Kyrgyzstan about retaining its Manas air base and said it would make no sense for Russia to try to undermine efforts to stabilize the region.

"This is something that the U.S. government continues to discuss with Kyrgyzstan officials," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. "We're still very much engaged on this issue."

His comments to reporters followed Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's announcement this week that the Manas air base would close after Kyrgyzstan secured financial aid from Russia, the country's former Soviet master and traditional ally.

The timing has led to speculation that Russia had succeeded in pressuring Bakiyev to close the base, a vital hub for military supplies and personnel for U.S. and NATO forces in neighboring Afghanistan.

"It certainly doesn't make any sense for Russia or any other country in the region to try to undermine the international effort to bring stability to Central Asia," said Whitman.

He denied he was accusing Russia of being unhelpful, adding: "They have been very consistent in their public statements in the past about supporting the international effort to bring stability in Afghanistan as well as the region."

A State Department official said separately that Bakiyev announced the base closure after a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. But the official said it was unclear how involved Russia was in the Kyrgyz president's decision.

Kyrgyzstan's parliament will vote next week on whether to shut the air base.

"In terms of negotiations, nothing is ever a done deal in Central Asia. It is certainly not over. We continue to discuss it with Kyrgyzstan," said the State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to talk on the issue.