U.S. Starts to Evacuate Manas Military Base in Afghanistan. -Pentagon shifting logistics hub to Romania from Kyrgyzstan

The US military has begun moving its Afghanistan air logistics base in Kyrgyzstan’s Manas Transit Center to a base in eastern Romania in preparation of a complete shift by July 2014, when its contract to use the Kyrgyz base for the US-led Afghan operations comes to an end.

The announcement of the American transition from Manas to a new military air base in eastern Romania at forward operating site Mihail Kogalniceanu, followed a Friday visit to the US Defense Department by Romanian Defense Minister Mircea Dusa.

The US leased the Kyrgyz air base near the capital Bishkek for over a decade as part of logistics support for the US-led military operations in Afghanistan, in order to refuel airlift transports carrying cargo and troops.

The Romanian air base on the Black Sea has already been used by the US military since 1999 and according to a 2005 agreement, the American military has been granted access to several bases in European country for training, storage, and deployments.

In June, the Kyrgyz Parliament passed a bill that ended the US lease of Manas Transit Center.
The US base has been at the center of several scandals since its opening in 2001, including the fatal shooting of a local man by an American guard at a base checkpoint.

The killing was not prosecuted by Kyrgyzstan, as US Military personnel have legal immunity in the country. Critics also voiced concerns over environmental damage and potential threats from US enemies against the stronghold.
almanar.com.lb
19/10/13
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• Pentagon shifting logistics hub to Romania from Kyrgyzstan...

Finding a new location for the Afghanistan air logistics center was important because the Kyrgyz government has asked the United States to leave Manas by July 2014.

The Pentagon said on Friday it has begun shifting its Afghanistan air logistics hub to a base in Romania and will complete the transition from Manas Transit Center in Kyrgyzstan by the time its contract for that facility expires in July 2014.

The announcement of the decision to shift the operations to Forward Operating Site Mihail Kogalniceanu in eastern Romania followed a visit to the Pentagon on Friday by Romanian Defense Minister Mircea Dusa.

U.S. forces have used the site, located on the Black Sea, since 1999. An agreement between the United States and Romania in 2005 allowed Washington to use several bases, including Mihail Kogalniceanu, for training, storing equipment and deployments.

Finding a new location for the Afghanistan air logistics center was important because the Kyrgyz government has asked the United States to leave Manas by July 2014 and U.S. forces are in the midst of shipping home equipment after 12 years of war.

The Pentagon said in a statement that "the U.S. appreciates the support provided by the Kyrgyz people" to U.S. and coalition forces fighting in Afghanistan and "respects the decision of the government" to stop hosting the facility after a dozen years.

U.S. and Romanian defense ties have been growing. They include the construction of a land-based Aegis missile defense system as part of President Barack Obama's European ballistic missile defense program, which aims to protect against any weapons fired from Iran.

The Pentagon said Undersecretary of Defense for Policy James Miller would attend a groundbreaking ceremony later this month for the construction of the Aegis site.
worldbulletin.net
19/10/13

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