Azernews.Az

United States would have no interest in operating the Gabala radar station, a giant facility in north-west Azerbaijan whose operation by neighboring Russia has been halted, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar told journalists on Wednesday, Trend news agency reported.

He said this is a matter for Azerbaijan to determine how to best use that.

The Azerbaijani government will create a commission to remove equipment from the Gabala radar station in the near future, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said last week.

He added that the third party is unlikely to use the radar station in Gabala.

The Russian side has delivered a note on halting the exploitation of the Gabala radar station as of December 10, 2012 in connection with the expiration a day earlier of the relevant agreement with the Azerbaijani government.

On December 11, the Russian Foreign Ministry formally confirmed halting the use of the facility, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

A Russian military source recently said that the decision on the suspension of Russia's exploitation of the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan is prompted, first of all, by the absence of a need for its practical use and that new generation radar stations of Voronezh type are now available that could replace the outdated Gabala radar station, RIA Novosti reported.

The Gabala radar station was built as one of the most important elements of the USSR's missile defense system. After Azerbaijan gained independence, the radar station became the country's property but Russia continued to use it.

Previously, the Russian Defense Ministry said it was in talks with Azerbaijan to extend the lease of the radar station until 2025.