Russia seeks to extend lease agreement for Azerbaijan radar

15:23 | 12/ 03/ 2009

BAKU, March 12 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s foreign minister told his
Azerbaijani counterpart on Thursday that Russia wants to continue using
the Gabala early-warning radar after the current lease expires in 2012.

"Russia is interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan in using the
Gabala radar station, and will seek appropriate agreements with our
Azerbaijani colleagues," Sergei Lavrov told reporters after a meeting
with Elmar Mamedyarov.

The Azerbaijani diplomat said his country has no plans to transfer the
facility to third countries after the lease expires.

"The transfer of the Gabala radar station is not on the agenda,"
Mamedyarov said.

He also said the sides had discussed "all aspects of relations between
Azerbaijan and Russia."

Russia strongly opposes the possible deployment by the U.S. of 10
interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic,
considering them a threat to its security and nuclear deterrence, and
has offered the United States the use of radar stations in Armavir in
southern Russia and Gabala in Azerbaijan as alternatives.