BISHKEK. April 4 (Interfax-AVN) - The Norwegian military contingent will leave the U.S. Air Force base in Bishkek's Manas international airport on April 8, the press secretary of the anti- terrorist coalition base told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
The term of the contingent's stationing expired on Tuesday and the withdrawal of its units and military aviation represented by F-16 planes will be fully completed by April 8. The Norwegian military carefully accomplished their missions and their input in the activities of the coalition is highly praised, the press secretary said.
The Norwegian military accomplished combat missions in Afghanistan on F-16 fighters. The Norwegian government lately decided to use these forces at another location.
Combat tasks of the base will not change due to the departure of the Norwegian contingent, the press secretary noted. Military planes of other member-countries of the coalition stationed at the airfield will continue conducting operations related to the support of the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan. Though due to the Norwegian contingent's departure the military aviation, mainly F-16 planes representing the Netherlands and Denmark, will have more missions to accomplish, the press secretary stressed.
According to her, other contingents are not expected to leave the base in the next six months, for the Netherlands and Denmark prolonged their terms of stationing. The air base is manned by servicemen from six countries, these being Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain and the United States. The contingent numbers some 1,500 people and nearly 30 military planes.