The United States has welcomed a proposal on establishing a joint Kyrgyz-Russian venture to supply aviation fuel to the Pentagon's transit center in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz deputy prime minister said on Monday.
Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva proposed the venture, which would involve Russian gas giant Gazprom, during talks with President Barack Obama on her recent visit to the United States.
"If the fuel deliveries are organized through state structures and are transparent, [the venture] will bring up to $60 million per year to the Kyrgyz budget," Satybaldiyev said.
"As far as I could see, the U.S. side reacted positively to the idea," Satybaldiyev added.
The drafting of the agreement on the joint venture is in its final stages, First Deputy Head of the Kyrgyz President's Administration Muktar Djumaliyev said.
One of the conditions of the deal is that Russia must lower customs tariffs on gasoline and oil deliveries to Kyrgyzstan.
RIA Novosti
