Azerbaijan, Baku, July 11 / Trend E. Ostapenko /
Gabala radiolocation station has potential. The USA will consider its use as part of anti-missile protection, U.S deputy secretary of state James Steinberg said.
"As we are thinking about potentials, certainly, Gabala has a potential. This is something we intend to explore," Steinberg told media on July 11 being on two-day-visit in Baku.
The USA understands that use of Gabala radiolocation station to be coordinated with the conjunction of the Azerbaijani government, and we had a chance last night to discuss that, he said.
Gabala radiolocation station is situated north-west of Azerbaijan. It was constructed in Soviet time as one of the most important elements of anti-missile protection of USSR. After Azerbaijan got independence, Gabala radiolocation station was property of Azerbaijan. Russia continued to use station despite all troubles of Azerbaijani internal political situation.
Use of Gabala station becomes urgent due to disputes concerning the third position protection of anti-missile defense.
Former U.S administration planned to place 10 rockets-interceptors in Poland by 2013, as well as radar in Czechia under pretence of protection from supposed missile threat by Iran. Russia fears that these systems will threaten its security.
Obama's administration does not refused from plans to place anti-missile defense but ready for consultation with Moscow on this regards.
During the meeting of the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the U.S President Barack Obama in Moscow presidents had extensive discussions with Russian representatives about the possibility of cooperation on missile defense and missile warning. What they had agreed on assessment to have the opportunity and to locate the opportunities for cooperation, Steinberg said.
"Certainly, we are still at the preliminary stage with Russian partners in terms of thinking about possibilities cooperation. But the U.S president has made it very clear that our first preference will be the final ways of cooperating and to that extend Gabala radiolocation station might be a part of those discussions," Steinberg said.
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