Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr K. Ramazanova / Within the OSCE forum on secure cooperation in Vienna Russian and US representatives discussed possible exploitation of Azerbaijani Gabala radar station, a PR representative of the forum Mikhail Estafiyev said to Trend on 2 November.
Russia was represented at the meeting by the employees in the Defence Ministry and Foreign Office, and the United States was represented by the employees in the Agency for Anti-missile Defence and the Defence Secretariat. The meeting took place on 31 October. The sides explored the issues on anti-missile defence in Europe and Russia's offer on joint exploitation of Azerbaijan's Gabala radar station.
The United States did not ventilate any concrete decision on possibility of joint use of the station, Efendiyev said.
OSCE official site quoted the chair of the OSCE forum John Bernard: "Future of anti-missile defence is connected with European security. The plans will include not only the relations between Russian and the United States, but also the interests of all European countries. Therefore, the issue should be discussed and stay on agenda."
Russia suspiciously treats the United States' intensions to deploy its missile shield elements in Poland and the Czech Republic and instead offers joint exploitation of the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan. The issue has been discussed for over 4 months. Official Washington still intends to proceed with its plans in East Europe.
OSCE forum on secure cooperation takes place every week to discuss control over arming, demilitarization and other issues.