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AZERBAIJAN WANTS MOSCOW TO PAY MORE FOR USE OF QABALA RADAR STATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 9, 2011 - 16:37 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan wants Moscow to pay more for the use
of a radar station that is part of Russia's warning system against
attacks from beyond its southern frontiers, a senior Azeri official
told Reuters.
Russia operates the Qabala radar station under a 10-year agreement
with the ex-Soviet republic, which stands on the Caspian Sea between
Russia and Iran. It expires in August 2012. "The Russians want us
to extend the lease. We are ready to consider cooperation but the
conditions should be reviewed," Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov said in an interview.
When asked what exactly should be changed in the agreement, Azimov
said, "They should pay more." Russia is now paying $10 million
per year.
"The risk is bigger, the issue is more prominent and the importance of
Qabala has increased," Azimov said. He did not say how much Azerbaijan
wants Russia to pay or explain the risk, but Western nations are
concerned about what they call a growing threat of a missile attack
by Iran.
"Looking at similar situations in which the Russian Federation pays
the rent, they pay much more than they pay to Azerbaijan," Azimov said.
The Qabala facility is part of a ring of early warning radar stations
built during the Cold War. Some are in ex-Soviet republics, forcing
Moscow to seek agreements on their use or abandon them, and to begin
building new radars inside Russia.
In 2007 Russia offered to the United States joint use of the Qabala
station as an alternative to the Bush administration's planned European
missile shield, aimed largely to protect against a potential threat
from Iran.
The United States rejected the proposal, saying the Qabala radar would
not be useful. President Barack Obama has scaled back the planned U.S.
missile shield and NATO and Russia agreed last November to cooperate
on missile defence, but they have so far failed to agree a common
approach.
From: Baghdasarian
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 9, 2011 - 16:37 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan wants Moscow to pay more for the use
of a radar station that is part of Russia's warning system against
attacks from beyond its southern frontiers, a senior Azeri official
told Reuters.
Russia operates the Qabala radar station under a 10-year agreement
with the ex-Soviet republic, which stands on the Caspian Sea between
Russia and Iran. It expires in August 2012. "The Russians want us
to extend the lease. We are ready to consider cooperation but the
conditions should be reviewed," Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov said in an interview.
When asked what exactly should be changed in the agreement, Azimov
said, "They should pay more." Russia is now paying $10 million
per year.
"The risk is bigger, the issue is more prominent and the importance of
Qabala has increased," Azimov said. He did not say how much Azerbaijan
wants Russia to pay or explain the risk, but Western nations are
concerned about what they call a growing threat of a missile attack
by Iran.
"Looking at similar situations in which the Russian Federation pays
the rent, they pay much more than they pay to Azerbaijan," Azimov said.
The Qabala facility is part of a ring of early warning radar stations
built during the Cold War. Some are in ex-Soviet republics, forcing
Moscow to seek agreements on their use or abandon them, and to begin
building new radars inside Russia.
In 2007 Russia offered to the United States joint use of the Qabala
station as an alternative to the Bush administration's planned European
missile shield, aimed largely to protect against a potential threat
from Iran.
The United States rejected the proposal, saying the Qabala radar would
not be useful. President Barack Obama has scaled back the planned U.S.
missile shield and NATO and Russia agreed last November to cooperate
on missile defence, but they have so far failed to agree a common
approach.
From: Baghdasarian