Azerbaijan and Russia to mull extension of lease term of Gabala radar

Azerbaijan and Russia will hold a meeting concerning the extension of the lease term of Gabala Radar after January, 2012, military sources said.

The talks will be held with the participation of the representatives of Russian and Azerbaijani defense ministries. The sides will discuss the preparation of the new contract in connection with the expiry of the lease term in January, 2012.

"Azerbaijan wants to prepare the new contract. Baku has got a number of proposals concerning it," said the source and added that the proposals include increase of the lease payment, extra assistance of Russia for eliminating the ecological impacts of the radar, increase of the number of Azerbaijanis in the staff of the radar station, joint use of the radar, non-passage of information to the third state without the consent of Baku etc.

According to the source, in August, 2010 the Azerbaijani government wrote off the energy debts of the radar accumulated by 1997. It is planned to raise the issue on payment of the debt by Russia.

The new draft agreement, which will be prepared by the end of this year, will be submitted to the parliament for ratification. The new contract is expected to come into force in March, 2012.


/APA/