Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 4 /Trend/
Russia and Azerbaijan negotiate on extending the agreement on the use of Gabala radar station, which is part of the Russian early warning system, the Russian Space Forces Commander, Lieutenant-General Oleg Ostapenko said to a press conference today, ITAR-TASS reported.
Answering the question on the prospects for the use of Gabala radar station, the agreement on which expires in 2012, Ostapenko replied that "the negotiation process continues". "Recently, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov was in Azerbaijan, the commander said. - He held talks with Defence Minister and President of the country".
According to Ostapenko, "Azerbaijan has exposed certain requirements for this radar". "Negotiations are conducted on it," said the commander.
The Gabala RS, located on the north-western Azerbaijan, was built in Soviet times as one of the most important elements of a missile defense system of the USSR. After Azerbaijan gained independence, the RS become the country's property and Russia continued to use the station. A ten-year agreement to lease the station was signed in 2002.