U.S, Washington, Nov. 5 / Trend , N.Bogdanova/
If Russia and U.S. want to start cooperation on the bases of Gabala RLS, they cannot do it without Azerbaijan's participation, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov told Trend correspondent in Washington.
Azimov said technically Azerbaijan does not need Gabala RLS. "This station turned into a fixed center. We don't need it from technical point of view. But we can benefit from this station in terms of [U.S. and Russia] cooperation," Azimov said.
For now there is not any concrete step from any of the sides concerning the Gabala RLS, but "this station is one of negotiation topics for us", he added.
Azimov said the US-Russian cooperation at the Gabala RLS would result in increasing strategic significance of the station; however, it would increase threats to Azerbaijan as well.
The Gabala RLS, which is located in north-western Azerbaijan, was built during the Soviet times as one of the most important elements of a missile defense system of the USSR. After Azerbaijan gained independence and owned the RLS, Russia continued to use the station, despite all the upheavals of political life in Azerbaijan.