Gabala radar lease agreement ceased to be in force - ministry
BAKU. Dec 10 (Interfax) - The agreement with Russia on the lease of the Gabala radar has ceased to be in force, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reports.
"Due to the expiration on December 9, 2012, of the agreement between the governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation on the status, principles and terms of the use of the Gabala radar station, the Russian side on Monday informed the Azerbaijani side by an official note that it is suspending the exploitation of the radar", the report says.
"There have been intensive lease talks between Azerbaijan and Russia. During the talks, Azerbaijan demonstrated readiness to continue cooperation. But in the course of the talks, the parties failed to come to agreement on lease payments," the press service says.
The Daryal-type radar, which has the status of an information-analysis center, is located on the territory of the Gabala district is Azerbaijan's property.
In 2002, it was leased to Russia for ten years under an agreement ratified by both countries with an annual lease payment of $7 million. The agreement expires in 2012.
Lease extension talks began in 2011. Then, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Azerbaijani counterpart agreed to draft a new accord. But the sides have failed to come to terms on lease payments.
Azerbaijan first demanded $15 million, but then increased that sum tenfold to $150 million, and later - to $300 million, according to Russian media.
