Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend K.Ramazanova / Anne Derse, the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, stated in Baku on 26 July that the United States has not refused the joint use of the Gabala Radar Station.
During the summit of the G8 Summit in June, Russian Vladimir Putin proposed the joint use of the Gabala Radar Station to the United States. He noted Russia's priority to the proposal was for the placement of the Radar Station elements in Azerbaijan, neighboring with Iran, as opposed to the territories of Poland and Czech Republic.
Derse noted that the United States has not refused the proposal for joint use of the station. The issue must be discussed with Azerbaijan and during the discussions it will be possible to elaborate how the Gabala radar station meets the requirements of the US anti-missile system.
She noted that the Gabala radar station will not be an alternative to US plans to establish an anti-missile system in the Czech Republic and Poland.
The Gabala Radar Station situated in north-west Azerbaijan was built while part of the USSR as an important element of the USSR ANTI Missile Defence. When Azerbaijan gained independence, the Russians continued using the station despite political tensions in Azerbaijan. A ten-year agreement for Russia to lease the station was signed in 2002.
