Russia and Kyrgyzstan sign base deal

Russia and Kyrgyzstan signed a series of deals on Thursday including an agreement on maintaining Russian military bases in the Central Asian state, following a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The 15-year base agreement, signed by the two nations' leaders, will come into effect in 2017 with a possible five-year extension, RIANOVOSTI news agency reported. The agreement sets out what Russia will pay for renting the base, which has not been disclosed. A dispute flared between Moscow and Bishkek earlier this year over rental fees for Russia's four military bases in Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz Defense Minister in July warned that Bishkek would demand higher rental fees. Earlier this year, Kyrgyzstan said it would close the US base at Kansk, near Bishkek, after US forces leave nieghboring Afghanistan in 2014. President Putin stressed Russia's commitment to working with Kyrgyzstan to develop Manas airport, once US forces leave.