Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev said that the republic sees no alternative to joining the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space, RIA Novosti reports.
Kyrgyzstan has started the procedure of joining the Customs Union, formed by Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Kyrgyzstan expects benefits from members of the Customs Union, such as raw materials for the sewing industry.
The Kyrgyz president said that the US base at Manas International Airport should be closed down by 2014, according to the agreement with the Pentagon.
Atambayev denied pressure from Russia to make the decision.
The US base at Manas International Airport was built in 2001 and covers 30% of air fueling in the Afghan operation. It is also a logistical link for cargo and military shipments to Afghanistan. About 1,500 US servicemen and civilians operate at the base.
Atambayev said earlier that the military base does not serve the national interests. The Kyrgyz prosecutor general is investigating shipments of jet fuel by private companies cooperating with the Pentagon. They are suspected of being involved in ex-president Kurmanbek Bakiyev's corruption schemes.
