Novruz Mammadov: We are not against extension of leasing the Gabala radar station, but on different terms

Azerbaijan does not oppose the continuation of the rent by Russia the Gabala Radar Station (GRS), but in Moscow should take into account the prospects of the development of this region, the news agency Sinhua was told by the head of the Foreign Relations Department of the presidential administration, Novruz Mammadov.

"If Russia really needs the Gabala Radar Station, and if they want to cooperate, Azerbaijan is not against it. However, this issue must be agreed with the actual state of affairs," he said.

According to Mammadov, it should be taken into account that the Gabala region, on the territory of which the radar is located, has great potential for the development of tourism, agriculture and other fields.

The GRS covers the territory of ​​52 hectares, and there serve about a thousand Russian troops, and their family members. In early summer the command of the station has offered to family members to return to Russia, which caused discontent of their families and their wives wrote an open letter to Vladimir Putin.

Regarding the comments by Novruz Mammadov on the perspectives of tourism, the radar has a negative impact on the environment and is the source of cancers in children. It is no accident in this area the level of illness of children with leukemia is 6-7 times higher than in the whole of Azerbaijan.

*The radar station “Daryal” located in the Gabala region of Azerbaijan, which was put into operation in 1985, was one of the eight stations of the missile defense complex of the former Soviet Union. The station allows you to control the territory within a radius of 6000 km.

The station, which is owned by Azerbaijan, according to the agreement signed in 2002, was leased to Russia until 2012. Rent is $ 7 million per year. Since last year Russia and Azerbaijan are having talks on the extension the lease, but in vain.  According to some Russian media, Azerbaijan was originally requested from Russia $15 million rent a year, and then raised the sum to $150 million, and most recently - up to $ 300 million. The term of leasing expires in December 2012, but the fundamental decision to extend must be achieved within six months before. -02D-