The Gabala Radiolocation station, located in Azerbaijan , is a part of the Russian system of missile warning. It may become a part of integration into European anti- missile defense system, Deputy Chief of the Space Forces Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Morozov said, RIA Novosti reported.
"The Gabala station is most suitable for integration into European anti-missile defense. It controls the space at 6,000 kilometers to the south," Colonel Morozov said at the conference "Russia's position on creating European anti-missile defense system .
He added that it is possible to use the Gabala station, located in Voronezh and Armavir (Krasnodar area ).
Russia and NATO agreed on the c ooperation on creating European anti- missile defense system at the NATO - Russia Council summit in Lisbon in November 2010. The essence of the Russian proposal is to create a joint anti- missile defense system on a territorial (sectoral) principle of shared responsibility of individual countries or groups of countries to detect and destroy missiles in a certain defense sector.
Chief of the Russian General Staff Nikolai Makarov said on May 4, 2011 that Moscow is ready to discuss any constructive proposals for participation in European anti- missile defense system, but NATO must give assurances that the system will not threaten the Russian nuclear potential .
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov spoke about the lack of progress in the U.S. - NATO negotiations to build anti- missile defense system in Europe . He admitted that the Russian military develop a plan of counter - measures in case of placing the elements of the U.S. anti- missile defense system near Russia's borders.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that the development of European anti- missile defense system must be subject to clear rules. " Russia will retaliate if it fail s to develop a model of cooperation with the United States and NATO in European anti- missile defense system," he said.
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.