BRUSSELS (AP) — Lance Armstrong's Astana team appears ready to participate in the Tour de France after reaching an agreement with its Kazakh backers to solve financial problems that have plagued the team this year.

Astana riders have held repeated protests since April over debts owed by the Kazakh Cycling Federation, putting the team's participation in the Tour in doubt.

Astana issued a statement on Thursday saying team leader Johan Bruyneel, its managing company Olympus Sarl and the cycling federation had settled their differences during a meeting with a Kazakh government representative and that the debts had been paid.

The statement said the agreement ensures that the team will be able to compete for the remainder of the season.