Tuesday, 15 November 2005
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United Press International - USA
By JOHN C.K. DALY
UPI International Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Russia says it plans to keep 1,500 troops in Moldova's restive province of Transdniestria for the foreseeable future.
The issue of the Moldovan breakaway region -- a hotbed for arms smugglers and other criminals -- has roiled Russian-Moldovan relations since 1991.
During a visit last week to the Romanian capital Bucharest, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov said that Russia maintains 500 peacekeeping soldiers in Transdniestria along with an additional 1,000 troops to protect the munitions depot there of the former Soviet 14th army.
Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has accused Russia of bad faith in negotiations aimed at a political solution in Transdniestria, labeling the ammunition depot a "political shield" which allows Russian troops to prop up the Transdniestrian regime.
Many in Romania believe Russia is dragging its feet over the issue, needing an excuse to keep troops there to strategically balance Washington's plans to develop military "lily-pad" bases in Romania next year.
During an interview with Romania's Ziua newspaper Lavrov said, "As for Transdniestria, a solution calls for agreement between Chisinau and Tiraspol on a common and achievable state pattern that would provide Transdniestria with special status and guarantees. Chisinau and Tiraspol will have to reach consensus. But those invited to negotiations as mediators -- at present the Russian Federation, Ukraine and OSCE -- must support the building of mutual trust between the parts involved in conflict and suggest compromise solutions in keeping with the normality shaping these years."
Voronin countered, "About $2 billion are being laundered every year in Transdniestria and no one wants to give up this source so easily. We consider this depot a political shield that supports the Transdniestrian regime."
Voronin also charged that Moscow is using Transdniestria as an arms bazaar, adding that his government has proof that the Transdniestrian government in Tiraspol sold weapons to Iraq, citing documents captured in Baghdad from deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's archive.
Last Thursday Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev accused the Transdniestrian government of illegally selling Russian weapons stocks from its munitions cache, which have gone around the world to flash points including Chechnya.
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In July Uzbekistan abrogated its agreement to allow the United States to use its airbase at Khanabad; under terms of the lease the Pentagon received 180 days notice to vacate. The move has increased the Pentagon's use of the Gansi airbase in neighboring Kyrgyzstan. The U.S. military had used Khanabad since October 2001 and reportedly based about 800 personnel there.
Kyrgyzstan's government is now increasing its fiscal demands for the Pentagon to continue using the base. During a press conference Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said, "The United States pays fewer taxes and less money (than it should) for the use of the Manas base. Without a doubt the figures must be increased so that the United States pays more for their presence on the base."
Washington indicated the importance of the facility by sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Bishkek in early October to negotiate terms for Washington to continue using the facility at Manas near the capital Bishkek. At the end of Rice's visit a joint declaration was issued stating that both countries wanted to see U.S.-led coalition forces remain in Kyrgyzstan until "the mission to fight terrorism in Afghanistan is complete." The commander of Central Command, Gen. John Abizaid, subsequently visited Bishkek, while last week U.S. Central Command director of the department for plans and policy, Rear Adm. Robert Moeller, led a military delegation to Kyrgyzstan.
In outlining Bishkek's negotiating position the newspaper Vercherniy Bishkek reported that Bakiyev said that Gansi airport "requires major expenditure from the Americans. The U.S. will have to pay for each meter of land used at world prices. Inflation and other circumstances should be taken into account."
In addition to increased rent Bakiyev wants the Pentagon to pay an additional $80 million to compensate Kyrgyzstan for earlier payments that it alleges were diverted into "sweetheart" deals by fuel supply companies closely tied to the former regime of President Askar Akayev.
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Russia is continuing a national dragnet for suspects involved in last month's guerrilla uprising in Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria.
Police officials in Chita province on the border with China and Mongolia have detained two brothers, Aslan and Ruslan Kuchmenov, on suspicion of having participated in the Nalchik disturbances. The two are from Shalushka village in Kabardino-Balkaria.
According to officers of Chita's police department for fighting organized crime, the pair confessed their involvement. Officials told Interfax that four Kuchmenov brothers were part of a gang of nine people who raided an arms shop in Nalchik, during which one of the brothers was killed.
During the uprising 137 people were killed.
Police officials reconstructing their movements determined that after the uprising failed Aslan and Ruslan Kuchmenov hitchhiked to Pyatigorsk and then took a train to Moscow. After a brief period in the capital they took a train to Chita's Krasnokamensk, arriving on Oct. 30. The third Kuchmenov brother is being sought by authorities.
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