All discussions on Gabala radar station must be coordinated with Azerbaijan: U.S. ambassador

"The United States tried to establish a productive dialogue with Russia on deployment of missile defense system during President Bush's office. During the dialogue Russia offered Gabala radar station as part of missile defense system. We do not believe that Gabala radar station can replace all opportunities that we discuss with Czech Republic and Poland," ambassador said.

Derse said President Obama considers the issue of missile defense and the ways which can reduce nuclear threat are based on several factors including technical ones.

"The missile defense system is important and we, U.S., Europe, Azerbaijan and Russia, can prevent threat coming from the North Korea and Iran. We seek solution to the anti-missile defense," the ambassador said.

Gabala radar station, located in north-western Azerbaijan, was built during the Soviet Union as one of the important elements of the USSR missile defense system. Russia continued to use the station even after Azerbaijan gained independence despite peripetia for Azerbaijan's domestic policy.

Ten-year agreement on leasing the radar station was signed in 2002. The Gabala radar station has been matter of debate of numerous political debates also in the Azerbaijani parliament. In early 2006, Azerbaijan raised the issue of doubling payment for leasing for the radar station from $7 millions to $14.4 million per year.

In late 2004, Azerbaijani Ecology Ministry said the ministry aims to hold monitoring over impact of station's radiation on nature and health of people who live in Gabala and surrounding regions. Local ecological organizations say electromagnet radiation from the Gabala radar station has a negative impact both on environment and peoples' health.

/Trend News/