Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend A.Gasimova / "The Russian offer for cooperation in the area of missile defence is a positive development," said Mr. Robert Simmons, NATO Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.
On 7 June, as a result of the meeting with the US President George Bush, within the G-8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, Putin highlighted his proposal to jointly use the Russian-leased Azerbaijan Gabala Radar Station with the US in response to US plans to establish a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
During his interview with Trend on 2 July, Simmons expressed that it signals a wish for constructive engagement on this important issue and marks a step away from the earlier confrontational rhetoric by Russian officials. "It is, however, still too early to tell what concrete role the Gabala radar station could play in a missile defence system. This is a discussion which will have to take place between US, Russia and Azeri officials," Simmons added.
Russia leases the Gabala Radio Radar Station in Azerbaijan. The station is part of the Russian system tracking movement of the ballistic missiles. The station was constructed during the rule of the former Soviet Union as one of the significant elements of the anti-missile system of the USSR. After Azerbaijan regained its independence and owned the station, Russia offered to use it. A ten-year agreement to rent the station was signed in 2002.
The proposal by the Russian President will be discussed in USA on 2 July at the next meeting of the Presidents of the United States, Georgia Bush and Russia, Vladimir Putin.