Russia signs agreement on deploying military aircraft in Kyrgyzstan

The Russian and Kyrgyzstani defense ministers signed an agreement on the status and terms of deployment of Russian military aircraft in Kyrgyzstan. The signing of the agreement was attended by presidents of the two countries. Commenting on this event, Putin announced that the agreement "would provide a legal basis for the Russian air base in the Kyrgyzstani town of Kant". His Kyrgyzstani counterpart estimated the agreement as sequential to the agreement on security collaboration signed by Russian and Kyrgyzstani leaders in December 2002 during Putin's visit to Kyrgyzstan, Rossiya (Russia) television reported.