Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. I.Alizadeh / Azerbaijan and Russia have signed a military cooperation plan. The document was signed by the Russian Defense Minister Anatoli Serdukov and Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev.
The bilateral plan covers all military directions for both countries in 2008.
The official visit of the Russian Defense Minister to Azerbaijan began on 27 November, with Serdukov and Abiyev meeting on 28 November. Serdukov went to the Gabala Radar Station 'Daryal' after the meeting with the Azerbaijani Defense Minister.
The Russian President had asked the United States to refuse to install a missile defense system in Poland or the Czech Republic, and in exchange, suggested utilizing the Gabala Radar Station located in Azerbaijan. The proposal was made in June 2007.
The Gabala Radar Station is situated in the northwestern region of Azerbaijan and was built while the USSR was in power, as an important element of the Soviet missile defense. A ten-year agreement on the leasing of the station was signed in 2002. Annual rent charges make up $14mln.