Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Russia is ready to break off negotiations with the Azerbaijani government on the status and principles of the lease and use of the Gabala radar station (information-analytical center Daryal).

The Russian media reports that the decision to refuse from use of the radar was made after Azerbaijan declared the rise of the rent up to $300 million since 2013. In parallel, similar demands to Russia were also made by Tajikistan. He also requested $300 million for the lease of the military base established at the locations of the 201st Motorized Rifle Division of the Soviet army.

The Russian media have linked the decisions of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan to increase sharply the rent for military facilities with the machinations of the U.S., which tends to push Russia out of Central Asia and the Caucasus. At the same time, the Russian media are sure that their country is going to agree with Tajikistan, but intends to refuse from the Gabala radar station.

The Russian army has already started to prepare the public opinion for this decision, arguing that the loss of data from the radar station in Azerbaijan will not affect the country’s defense ability.

Earlier Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan stated that negotiations on the RLS continue and information on their results will appear by the end of the year.

Previously in Baku Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed of the necessity to intensify negotiations on this issue within the working group established by the two countries’ governments.

The working group has already held two meetings.

Earlier President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan defined composition of the national group in the negotiations on the status and rent & exploitation principles of Gabala radiolocation station (Information Analytic Centre "Daryal") to be held with Russia in connection with expiration of the agreement in this area signed on 25 January 2002.

Under the President’s decree, the national negotiating group is led by First Vice-Premier Eyyub Yagubov. The group also composes Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, Finance Minister Samir Sharifov, Chairman of the State Committee on Land & Cartography Garib Mammadov, Chairman of the State Committee for Property Affairs Karam Hasanov, Chairman of the State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev, Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Oruj Zalov, Deputy Tax Minister Sahir Mammadkahnov, Head of the State Migration Service Arzu Rahimov, Head of Main Department of the National Security Ministry Nizami Shirinov and Head of Gabala region’s Executive Power Sabuhi Abdullayev. The Head of the State ordered the group to ensure timely coordination of the status and principles of the rent and use of the radiolocation station with Russia.

Earlier Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said that he has no concerns that Azerbaijan and Russia will agree on station rent conditions.

"We need this station. We would like to upgrade it, make it quite different one, with different parameters. We have an idea how to do it. It is very useful to extend Radiolocation station’s parameters, including Iran program as well," Serdyukov said.

He also added then that a modern station of high operational compatibility will be installed in Gabala. It will be manufactured at the plant and just directly assembled in Gabala.

‘Our Azerbaijani partners don’t have objections. Now only purely financial issue is on agenda," he said.

Serdyukov pointed out that Azerbaijan would like to increase sharply the rent cost against present $14 million per year.

"We’d like to keep the previous cost but at that sharply reduce the territory we are renting. With new form of the station we do not need such territories, volume of communications and engineering. We will not consume so much water and energy," Serdyukov noted.

The RLS serves to warn about rocket launches in South hemisphere. Its rent period expires in 2012 and Russia is ready to extend it at least till 2025.

Nevertheless General Director of OJSC "Radio Technical Institute named after academic A. L. Mints" Vladimir Savchenko stated that construction of newest radio location station  "Voronezh - VP" of high plant preparedness in Gabala is planned for completion in 2019.

28.06.2012 10:22