Qabala Radar problem to be resolved by late 2012

Russia’s leasing of the Qabala Radar will be resolved by the end of 2012, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at a press conference with OSCE Chairman Eamon Gilmore in Baku, Trend reports.

The radar is part of Russia’s missile defenses built during the USSR. Russia leased it for 10 years until December 2012. Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov visited Azerbaijan in late July 2011 to discuss the problem. Russia plans further exploitation of the radar and its modernization. A working group for technical aspects of the station was formed.

Russia plans to conclude reconstruction of the radar in 2 years.