U.S. still welcome at Manas, Kyrgyzstan minister says Published July 26, 2005 By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) -- The United States is welcome to continue using Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan's defense minister said here July 26.Gen.Maj. Ismail Isakov also said that any future movement of U.S. troops out of Kyrgyzstan "fully depends upon the situation in Afghanistan." After Afghanistan is stabilized there would be no further need for American troops in Kyrgyzstan, he said.But General Isakov also pointed out that he agrees with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's assessment that Afghanistan still is not stable and, therefore, U.S. troops are still needed in Kyrgyzstan.To support military and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, U.S. supply planes fly in and out of Manas at Bishkek International Airport, and Tajikistan provides refueling services for U.S. military aircraft, while Uzbekistan, like Kyrgyzstan, also has provided an airport for U.S. military use.U.S. bases in central Asia "have been enormously helpful with respect to our efforts in Afghanistan," Secretary Rumsfeld said, noting those efforts also include U.S. and NATO military and humanitarian missions. Those bases also play a role in regional counterterrorism and counternarcotics missions, Secretary Rumsfeld said.Earlier in the day, Secretary Rumsfeld met with and congratulated Kyrgyzstan's newly elected president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who is to be inaugurated Aug. 14. Secretary Rumsfeld said the United States and the international community are pleased that the July 10 election was conducted fairly."The people of the United States recognize the magnitude of Kyrgyzstan's achievement," he said.Kyrgyzstan's election earned good marks from the Organization for the Security and Cooperation of Europe, Secretary Rumsfeld said July 24 aboard his E-4B aircraft headed to Kyrgyzstan.That was the first time any of the five former Soviet Central Asian republics of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan had received the organization’s passing grades for an election, Secretary Rumsfeld said.Kyrgyzstan's former president departed the country March 24 after a bloodless coup.General Bakiyev gave credit to the United States for helping to effect successful changes in his country, including the recent fairly conducted election.The United States looks forward "to continuing to work with the international community to support Kyrgyzstan's emergence as a democratic state and a free-market economy," Secretary Rumsfeld said.The United States also would continue to work with Kyrgyzstan's government to confront violent extremism and global terrorism, the secretary said.As he prepared to depart the country, Secretary Rumsfeld met with a group of Airmen at Manas Airport and told them they would likely be in Kyrgyzstan a good while yet.