Azerbaijan concerned over use of radar station

Joint US-Russian use of a radar station in Azerbaijan would raise security concerns for the country, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said today.

His comments came a day after experts from Russia and the US visited the Gabala radar station.

Moscow has proposed the US shares use of the station, currently run by Russia, as an alternative to placing elements of a missile-defence system in eastern European countries.

Russia vehemently opposes putting elements of the proposed missile shield system in Poland and the Czech Republic, saying that would weaken Russia’s nuclear deterrent.

The dispute has troubled relations between Moscow and Washington for months.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the Gabala alternative this summer. The US has not rejected the idea, but has expressed reservations about Gabala’s usefulness. Washington has said it would consider the station as a supplement to other installations rather than as an alternative.

But Azimov’s statement showed that Azerbaijan is uneasy about the proposal.

“Possible US-Russian co-operation on the Gabala radar station will elevate the strategic importance of that facility, but at the same time it will increase the threat to Azerbaijan and therefore the issue of security guarantees for Azerbaijan will become increasingly important,” he said.

The US says the missile-defence system is meant to fend off possible attacks from rogue states, including Iran, which borders Azerbaijan.

Also today, the chief of staff of Russia’s military said he had evidence that the proposed missile-defence system is intended to undermine Russia.

“The missile-defence system being created today in Europe is specifically aimed against Russia. I am prepared to prove this with figures and diagrams,” General Yuri Baluyevsky said, according to the RIA-Novosti news agency.

“If you accept the logic of the Americans that Iran will develop missiles within five to seven years, then what will the radar systems and American missile defence be involved with for these seven years?” Baluyevsky asked.