Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the geopolitical situation in Central Asia in view of the decision by the authorities in Kyrgyzstan to no longer host a US military base on its territory reportedly as a result of pressure from the Government of the Russian Federation. [5215/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With the collapse of the Soviet Union the five ex-Soviet Central Asian Republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) had to adapt to a changed economic system and establish themselves as independent states. The Deputy will be aware that some countries of the region are rich in energy and mineral resources, but all face problems in the economic and social sphere. Many outside powers are keen to expand their influence in the region or have a presence there because of its resources and strategic location.

On 3 February, Kyrgyz President Bakiyev announced the closure of the Manas air-base operated by the United States. If the decision is confirmed by the Kyrgyz parliament, which delayed a vote scheduled for earlier this week, the US would have a six-month period to wind down its activities at the base. The loss of Manas, the only US base in Central Asia and a key transit point for supplies, would present a significant challenge for US and NATO activities in Afghanistan. The US can be expected to make every effort to convince the Kyrgyz government to reconsider its decision.

While the timing of the current announcement was a surprise, there have been question marks over the base's long-term survival since July 2005, when the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which includes among its members the countries of Central Asia along with Russia and China, passed a resolution calling for all non-SCO bases to be removed from Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is also host to a Russian airforce base located a few miles from that operated by the US. The Russian Federation has made it clear that it does not favour a long-term US presence in Central Asia. The possible closure of the US base has been raised on several occasions, and the US has had to re-negotiate its arrangement with the Kyrgyz Government previously to enable the base to continue to operate.