Kyrgyz and U.S. negotiators reached a deal on July 14 for a U.S. air base at Manas Airport to remain in Kyrgyzstan. A joint statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan said that Kyrgyzstan will receive $150 million \"in total assistance and compensation over the next year,\" pending U.S. congressional approval. The statement did not specify exactly how much the United States will pay to lease the base, noting only that the U.S. government will \"compensate equitably the Kyrgyz government and Kyrgyz business for goods, services, and support of U.S. operations.\" Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev said in an interview in early 2006 that Kyrgyzstan wanted to raise annual lease payments for the base from $2.7 million to $207 million. (AP)