Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 30 / Trend, M. Aliyev /
The first meeting of Azerbaijan-Russia Joint Commission on the closure of the Gabala radar station is planned for February, Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said at a briefing on Wednesday.
On Azerbaijani side, the commission is co-chaired by the Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov.
The session will discuss the technical issues around the closure of the Gabala radar station.
The Gabala radar station located in north-west Azerbaijan was built during the Soviet period as one of the most important elements of the USSR's missile defense system. After Azerbaijan gained independence, the radar station became the country's property and Russia continued to use it. The Agreement on the status, principles and operating conditions of the Gabala radar station between the governments of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation expired on December 9, 2012, and the Russian side sent a note halting the operation of the radar station on December 10 last year.