US military planes now can use Kazakhstan's airport

Kazakhstan and the USA have signed a memorandum which allows to use the airport of the former Kazakhstan's capital Alma-Ata for emergency landings and refuelling of the US military planes participating in the anti-terror operation in Afghanistan.

The document was signed by Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Abuseitov and US Ambassador to Kazakhstan Larry Napper in Kazakhstan's new capital Astana on Wednesday.

The memorandum is signed within cooperation between the two countries in combating international terrorism and implies that the cooperation "has grown into strategic partnership", said the American diplomat.

Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev announced that it did not mean the creation of a military base on the territory of Kazakhstan. It means landings of planes belonging to the anti-terrorist coalition, first of all American planes, in case both sides consider them emergent."