Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan key security factor - Putin

BISHKEK, February 28. /TASS/. Moscow and Bishkek agree that the Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan is a key factor of stability and security, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday after talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart, Almazbek Atambayev. Putin said he had discussed with Atambayev the problems of terrorism, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime in Central Asia. "We agreed to strengthen bilateral military and technical cooperation and confirmed common understanding that the presence of the Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan is an important factor of stability and security in the Central Asian region," Putin said. Atambayev said the issue of building up the Russian military contingent at the Kant base was not discussed at the meeting. "We even have not considered the issue of expanding the Russian base. We have discussed the strengthening of the Kyrgyz Armed Forces and supplies of weapons. Russia wants to help us build up our own armed forces," Atambayev said. Read more