Ivanov Says NATO Given the 'Go-Ahead'

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov shocked a press conference in Washington yesterday when he said Russian President Vladimir Putin gave approval to place NATO bases in the Kyrghyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in 2001. In addition, Putin telephoned Central Asian leaders to convince them to permit NATO forces in their countries.

Some time ago Ivanov made it clear, however, that Russia was prepared to accept NATO bases in Central Asia only during the military campaign in Afghanistan.