Minister: Russia offers Azerbaijan to modernize Gabala RLS - UPDATE

Russia offers Azerbaijan to modernize the Gabala Radio Location Station (RLS), Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said after a meeting with his Azerbaijani Counterpart Safar Abiyev in Baku on Monday, RIA Novosti reported.

"We have developed our proposals on the Gabala RLS. Moreover, we have expanded them and offered to upgrade the Gabala RLS. We have certain plans to modernize it," Serdyukov said.

A working group will be soon established and it will pay a two-week visit to Baku to consider all technical issues, he added.

"Then, I and my colleague can already discuss in detail each item of this agreement (for further exploitation of the Gabala RLS) from Aug. 15," he added.

Regarding the Azerbaijani-Russian military and military-technical cooperation, Serdyukov said a sufficient relationship was established in this area.

"Everything that we planned for 2010 has been almost done and events planned for 2011 run on schedule," he said.

Serdyukov expressed confidence that the parties will realize all that was scheduled.

He said the Russian side proposed to Azerbaijan to increase quotas for training of the Azerbaijani military personal. "Now it will be considered. We hope that they will be able to do this by Sept.1," he said.

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Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov during two-day visit to Azerbaijan will discuss extension period of Russia's lease of the Gabala radar station (RLS), Ministry of Defense of RF reported on Sunday.

During his work visit, which began on Sunday, Anatoly Serdyukov will meet with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and hold talks with his counterpart - Colonel-General Safar Abiyev, RIA Novosti reported.

"The leaders of the defense departments will discuss status and development of the armed forces of both countries, further prospects of military and military-technical cooperation between them, in particular, the extension period of Russia's lease of the Gabala radar station," - noted in the Defense Ministry.

During his stay in Baku, Russian military delegation will lay a wreath at the monument to national leader Heydar Aliyev. Visit will finish on July 26.


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