BAKU. Nov 29 (Interfax-AVN) - The Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan will be capable of performing its duties even after 2012, when the time of its lease by Russia is to expire, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasily Istratov said at a press conference on Thursday.
"The station is performing its duties properly and is capable of continuing to perform them after 2012," Istratov said.
"The Gabala radar station belongs to Azerbaijan and if someone is entitled to decide what to do with it after 2012 then it is its owner, which is Azerbaijan," Istratov said.
A 10-year agreement between Russia and Azerbaijan on the radar station's status and conditions of its operation qualifies it as an information and analytical center and presumes that it belongs to Azerbaijan.
Russia pays Azerbaijan $7 million annually for leasing the radar station and $31 million for having used it in 1997-2000. Russia has cleared the latter sum by paying Azerbaijan $6.2 million annually over five years.