Azeri radar ‘of no use from technical viewpoint’
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has said Baku has
no need for the radar station in the country’s western Gabala
district leased by Russia from the technical viewpoint.
"Since this station has turned into a stationary center, it is of no use to Azerbaijan from the technical viewpoint. However, we can benefit from it as part of cooperation [with Russia and the United States]," Azimov said in Washington.
The deputy minister noted, however, that, if Russia and the U.S. seek to jointly use the facility, this will be impossible without Baku’s involvement. He added: "Neither side is currently taking specific steps on the Gabala radar station anyway. The station is a topic of discussion only in our midst."
Azimov said cooperation between Moscow and Washington on operating the radar station will increase its strategic importance but added that this could also "pose some threats" to Azerbaijan.
The Soviet-era radar station is leased by Azerbaijan’s northern neighbor under an agreement expiring in 2012. Moscow earlier offered to the U.S. to jointly use the radar as an alternative to Washington’s plan to station missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic. Lately, the Obama administration said it was shelving the plan to base a missile shield in Eastern Europe.*
"Since this station has turned into a stationary center, it is of no use to Azerbaijan from the technical viewpoint. However, we can benefit from it as part of cooperation [with Russia and the United States]," Azimov said in Washington.
The deputy minister noted, however, that, if Russia and the U.S. seek to jointly use the facility, this will be impossible without Baku’s involvement. He added: "Neither side is currently taking specific steps on the Gabala radar station anyway. The station is a topic of discussion only in our midst."
Azimov said cooperation between Moscow and Washington on operating the radar station will increase its strategic importance but added that this could also "pose some threats" to Azerbaijan.
The Soviet-era radar station is leased by Azerbaijan’s northern neighbor under an agreement expiring in 2012. Moscow earlier offered to the U.S. to jointly use the radar as an alternative to Washington’s plan to station missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic. Lately, the Obama administration said it was shelving the plan to base a missile shield in Eastern Europe.*
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!