Trend News Agency
January 31, 2015
German Air Forces to continue to lease airport in southern Uzbekistan
By Demir Azizov
Tashkent: The German Armed Forces will continue to use transport and transshipment hub based on airport of Termez city, located in the south of Uzbekistan in the vicinity of the Uzbek-Afghan border, the online publications of Uzbekistan reported.
Uzbekistan provides the German Air Forces with a civilian airport near the city of Termez for transit of non-military goods since the end of 2001. Official lease agreement was signed in February 2002. Germany has invested 12 million euros in the airport modernization, mainly in upgrading the runways.
Since January 2015, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has officially ceased its mission in Afghanistan. Instead, NATO is launching a new mission called “Resolute Support”, within the framework of which 12, 500 soldiers from 40 countries will be responsible for preparing and advising Afghan security forces. Germany provides about 850 of its servicemen for participation in the mission.
During the mission, the German Armed Forces will use the air base in Termez. The corresponding agreement was signed on September 1, 2014 in Tashkent. The cost of renting the airport is not reported.
The government of Uzbekistan in 2016 plans to direct $10.4 million to the establishment of an international logistics center based on the Termez airport. Funding for the project is planned to be partially maintained at the expense of the Commission of the European Union.
Source