Kyrgyz Defense Ministry: The training center in Batken is not oriented against third countries
On March 17, 2010 Kyrgyz Defense Ministry disseminated the press-releasing, indicating that the construction of the anti-terrorist training center in the Batken Oblast is "the bilateral Kyrgyz-American relations project against international terrorism and religious extremism, transnational organized crime, prevention of drug smuggling, not oriented against third countries (editorial correction) and does not conflict with national obligations under CSTO and other international organizations".
This is the official response of the Defense Ministry about the purposes of new training camp. Earlier the anonymous sources in the Defense Ministry of Kyrgyzstan said that the soldiers, trained by Americans, will be involved in the possible "local conflicts" and specifically the conflicts with Uzbekistan.
The press-release notes the erection of the training camp in the Batken Oblast is one of many joint projects of Kyrgyzstan and USA in military area while the cooperation on military-technical aid has been implemented under FMF (Foreign Military Financing) program since 1996. One of the projects is the construction of the training center, based on military unit, located in the Koi-Tash village, administrative and barrack-rooms at the Tokmok troop base, the surgery department in the military hospital, located in the Besh-Kungei village.
According to the press-release, the launch of the training camp in the south of Kyrgyzstan "is being considered by American side". It has to be mentioned that estimated project cost is $5.5 million.
The news about American anti-terrorist center in the southern Kyrgyzstan produced wide discussion about possible expansion of US influence in the region and establishment of new US defense facility.
The launch of training center in Kyrgyzstan in cooperation with American military also produced doubts about the future of big loan, promised to be allocated by Russia in the amount of almost $2 billion for the construction of hydropower plant in the Naryn river: the loan was announced in February of 2009 shortly following the official statement of Bishkek, promising to shut down Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, NATO base in Manas was basically renamed into Transit Center.
Later on US Embassy in Kyrgyzstan informed that "by the request of Kyrgyz government US allocated $5.5 million for the launch of anti-terrorist training center in Batken". The press-release of US Embassy also specified that "the United States do not rush to establish the military base in the south of Kyrgyzstan".
According to Kyrgyz Defense Ministry, the training center will include barrack-rooms, dining room, classrooms, the assault course and so on. It is designated for training of special-purpose Kyrgyz forces.