#6043
[Second Issue of the Day]
#3
Russian radar in Azerbaijan seen as response to US ABM
withdrawal
ITAR-TASS
Moscow, 26 January, ITAR-TASS correspondent Vladislav Kuznetsov: In accordance with the agreement of 25 January 2002 at intergovernmental level, the status of the Qabala radar station in Azerbaijan has been determined as being within the framework of Russia's missile and space defence system. The ITAR-TASS correspondent was informed of this today in the Russian Defence Ministry.
At the meeting of government delegations on questions of cooperation in the sphere of regional security, the Russian and Azerbaijani sides reached a joint opinion on the status of the radar, the term of its lease and payments. The term of the lease of the radar station is 10 years. Russia will pay Azerbaijan seven million dollars per year in rent for the radar station. Baku will provide air defence cover for the radar installation; Moscow will modernize the air defence system and provide new components for it.
The Qabala radar station collects intelligence information about space in the western sector, tracks the launch of ballistic missiles in the Middle East and Central Asia. The information analysis centre located at the site constantly transmits data on the missile-space situation to the Russian missile attack warning system.
Specialists note that the constant functioning of the station is regarded by the Russian side as one of the links in the range of measures in response to the USA's unilateral withdrawal from the 1972 ABM Treaty.
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