Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend I.Alizade / Huseyngulu Bagirov, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, stated on 13 June that the State Commission is studying the negative impact of the Gabala Radar Station on the environment and human health.
The level of impact of radiation on the environment will be defined as a result of long observations and studies.
With respect to statements by specialists who urge that the joint use of the stations by the United States and Russia will boost damage to the environment and human health, the Minister stressed that it cannot be related to the level of intensive use of the radar station by the countries. "The level of impact of the RS on the environment will be defined with the number of facilities that carry out observation," he clarified.
Bagirov stressed that the Gabala RS assumes great importance for Azerbaijan from a political point of view. It is not only an ecological issue, but it also assumes political colors. There is a commission to investigate the issue and we will implement its decision," the Minister emphasized.
Russia leases the Gabala Radar Station in Azerbaijan. The station is part of the Russian system for tracking movement of ballistic missiles. The station, constructed during the former Soviet regime, was one of the USSR's significant components in its anti-missile system. After Azerbaijan regained its independence and took ownership of the station, Russia offered to rent it. A ten-year lease was signed only in 2002.