Wednesday, November 17, 2010 - Bishkek hosted the Commander of the United States’ Central Command, General James Mattis, on his first visit to Kyrgyzstan on Monday, media sources report.

The U.S. is interested in maintaining its use of the Manas Air Base just outside the capital for refuelling planes headed to military engagements in Afghanistan.

General Mattis conducted meetings with Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva, Defense Minister Abibilla Kudaiberdiev and State National Security Service (GNSB) General-Lieutenant Keneshbek Dushebayev, in addition to other members of the government.

The parties discussed the economic impact of the U.S. military operations in Kyrgyzstan, the Bishkek-based news agency 24.kg reported on Wednesday.

The general expressed his gratitude for use of the Manas base as well as Kyrgyzstan’s role in Afghanistan, the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek reported on Monday.

The American military commander also visited the Manas air base during his Kyrgyz trip and met with troops using the facility, the press release said.

Several Kyrgyz parties who gained power as a result of the October 10 parliamentary elections have openly campaigned against U.S. use of the base and have called for the American military to be kicked out of Manas.

Uzbekistan evicted the U.S. from its Karshi-Khanabad (K-2) air base in July 2005, which had been used as a U.S. transit hub for Afghan operations since 2001. The U.S. began to use the Manas air base for refuelling planes shortly after.