BISHKEK. Oct 17 (Interfax) - The CIS must decide on further presence of the transit center (the former U.S. air base) in Kyrgyzstan if NATO stays in Afghanistan after 2014, Kyrgyz Acting Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov told reporters on Monday.
Further presence of the transit center in Kyrgyzstan after 2014 may be discussed only if "the situation in that country [Afghanistan] does not improve and NATO stays there," he said. "The issue will be considered in the light of CIS security agreements," he added.
The Kyrgyz-U.S. agreement says that the transit center may stay at the Bishkek Manas Airport until 2014, he noted.
The deal was concluded in July 2009 with the validity period of five years. The center works for the international coalition in Afghanistan and fuels aircraft. NATO plans to start the pullout from Afghanistan in 2014.