QUARTERLY REIMBURSEMENT TO THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

UNCLAS STATE 123562 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PREL MOPS KG SUBJECT: QUARTERLY REIMBURSEMENT TO THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC FOR USE OF THE TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Quarterly reimbursement payments for logistical, military, and other support to United States military operations, including access to the Manas Transit Center, will be made pursuant to a new coordination process that will occur following the conclusion of each quarter. The current payment is now in the final stage of the coordination process, specifically the 15-day Congressional notification period. We expect the payment to be released soon after the end of the Congressional notification period. Future payments will follow this same coordination process. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) Under the terms of the &Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic Regarding the Transit Center at Manas International Airport and any Related Facilities/Real Estate,8 (the Agreement) the United States shall pay to the Kyrgyz Republic the sum of 60 million U.S. dollars per year for access to and use of the Transit Center and any related facilities/real estate in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic and for other mutually agreed logistic support, to be paid in quarterly installments each year the Agreement remains in effect. The first quarter under the new agreement ended on October 13, 2009. ¶3. (U) The reimbursement payments under the Agreement will be made in accordance with Title III of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009, Pub.L. 111-32. The support provided during the previous quarter must be validated, followed by a coordination process involving the Department of Defense, Department of State, and the Office of Management and Budget, and, finally, by notification to the U.S. Congress prior to the release of any funds. ¶4. (U) Funds may only be disbursed following this mandatory 15-day Congressional notification period. The reimbursement package is now in the final stage of the coordination process. Congress has until December 10 to review the package. Assuming there are no holds or outstanding Congressional inquiries, the funds may then be transferred to the Kyrgyz government within days after the notification period is completed. ¶5. (U) Future payments will follow the same process. There were a few unanticipated delays processing this first quarter reimbursement payment. We anticipate the process to flow more smoothly in the future. ¶6. (U) The Office of the Secretary of Defense cleared this text. CLINTON