Ireland, Dublin, Dec.6 / Trend special correspondent E. Huseynov /
Negotiations on Gabala radar station are not envisaged at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister as part of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Dublin, but in general, the negotiations continue, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said.
"Perhaps, they are held in closed format, but there are discussions in principle and by late 2012 we should resolve this issue," Mammadyarov told Trend special correspondent in Dublin.
Mammadyarov said according to Azerbaijani-Russian agreement, validity term of lease of the Gabala radar station will expire in December, therefore the negotiations are held very intensively.
The Gabala radar station located in north-west Azerbaijan was built during the Soviet period as one of the most important elements of the USSR's missile defence system. After Azerbaijan gained independence the radar station become the country's property and Russia continued to use it.
Previously, the defence ministry reported it was holding negotiations with Azerbaijan to extend the lease of the Gabala radar station until 2025. The terms of the lease agreement and exploitation conditions of this facility expire in December, 2012.