© Alexei Nikolsky/press service of the Russian President/TASS
BISHKEK, 28 February. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to close the base of Kant, if Kyrgyzstan will no longer require the assistance of the Russian Federation.
“If Kyrgyzstan will say that we are so strengthened their forces that such a database is not needed, we this day leave,” said the Russian head of state to journalists following the talks with President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev.
Putin stressed that the enlargement of the military contingent of the Russian Federation on the basis of Kant was not discussed. “The expansion of the troops (of the Russian Federation on the basis of Kant), we have not discussed”, – said the Russian head of state to journalists following the talks with President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev. However, he added: “If Kyrgyzstan considers it necessary to do it, then we will discuss it.”
“We have no need to post here (in Kyrgyzstan) military contingent,” – said the Russian leader. According to him, the presence in Kyrgyzstan of a Russian military base Kant “is linked only to security of Kyrgyzstan.”
“After we have begun to expand their relations in the framework of the CSTO (Organization of collective security Treaty), it goes without saying that we will work to continue to strengthen the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan”, – said the Russian President, adding that he had discussed the subject with his Kyrgyz counterpart for talks today. “In the framework of expert work at the level of CSTO will quietly, rhythmically to do it” – he said.
The Russian head of state also warned that Russia has no extra capacity to maintain military bases abroad. “Keep in mind that we are also the additional costs,” he said.