The Russian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers are discussing the fate of the Qabala radar station. Vladimir Savchenko, Director General of the Radio Technical Institute named after Academician A.L. Mints, said that Russia plans to build a new radar similar to the Voronezh-VP by 2019, RIA Novosti reports.
Savchenko is one of the negotiators who arrived in Baku with a delegation of the Russian Defense Ministry. He reminded that construction of the radar in the past had improved the territory's roads and electricity infrastructure.
The lease of the Qabala radar station ends in late 2012. Moscow and Baku initiated discussions of a new contract beforehand.
The Radio Technical Institute is the only maker of the Voronezh-PM radars, which will be the Russian missile shield by 2020. Savchenko noted the period 2017-2019, adding that the final decision belongs to Azerbaijan. The Daryal radar system of Qabala is not Russian property, which is why there are no talks on taking it down.
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on his visit to Baku in September that Russia plans reconstruction of the Qabala radar facility and reducing the territory it takes up. A new radar will be built in Russia and assembled in Qabala.
Azerbaijan highlighted the financial aspect of the issue, willing to raise the rental price for Russia. Other conditions are an increase in the number of Azerbaijani military at the facility and use of Azerbaijani food, trade and other services.
The Qabala radar station was built as part of the Soviet missile shield. It became Azerbaijani property when the republic gained independence. Russia signed a 10-year deal in 2002 to lease it.
Vladimir Yevseyev, Director of the Center for Socio-Political Studies, said that it is hard to discuss realization of the project, because Russia has a radar in Armavir working in the same direction. The Qabala radar would fulfil the same function. It would more likely be used as a Russian response to the European missile shield or in response to the US.
Rasim Musabekov, an Azerbaijani MP, told Vestnik Kavkaza that a new deal on the radar's use has not been signed. Azerbaijan has no need for the radar, he says. The sums for renting the facility are of little interest to Azerbaijan. They would be of greater interest to Armenia. Azerbaijan has a budget of $25 billion, the current rental price of $7 million paid or higher prices of $15, $20 or $50 million are not a big sum, he says.
Musabekov added that Azerbaijan would not want to be involved in Russian-US tensions around the missile shield.
