Bishkek, Dec 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev has signed a law ratifying an agreement with Russia on the presence of a joint military base in the Central Asian republic, the presidential press service said.
In September, the two countries agreed to create a joint military base in Kyrgyzstan in 2017. It will include the four military facilities Russia has in Kyrgyzstan at present.
The agreement was signed for a term of 15 years with an option to extend for five years.
Russia has a weapon test range in Karakol, a signals centre in Kara-Balt, a radio-seismic laboratory in Mayly-Suu and a Collective Security Treaty Organisation airbase in Kant.
All four facilities will be integrated into one base under a single command.