Regnum.ru
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June 13, 2007
Expert: USA is constructing its own radar system in South Caucasus
"It seems to me that the proposal made by Russian President Vladimir Putin to use jointly the Gabala radar system in Azerbaijan was an invitation for a political dialog on wide range of issues in international security," political analyst Karine Gevorgyan said in an interview to a REGNUM correspondent.
"Vladimir Putin's proposal was treated as a sensational one; meanwhile, as early as on May 2, 2007, information from an unnamed source in the Pentagon was seen in the internet that the United States would appreciate it if Russia and Azerbaijan agreed for joint use of the Gabala radar station. He alleged to express opinion of the US leadership. So, the Russian president, possibly, reacted to the proposal from the USA itself, where, as it seems, there had been no unanimous opinion between the Department of State and the Pentagon from the start," she said. Besides, according to Karine Gervorgyan, Azerbaijani officials made no secret of the fact that the question had been discussed during Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Baku. Putin's statement that he had had a discussion with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who, according to the Russian leader, said Azerbaijan would be happy to participate in the security issues that concern Russia and the USA, confirms the fact of Russia's consultations with Azerbaijan, believes the expert. "I know from official sources that in the frameworks of an agreement on military cooperation signed by the USA and Azerbaijan the United States is planning to include the radar station in Lerik and a radiotelephone observation station in Agstafa into the Caucasnet radar net. Last year, the USa deployed radars in two districts in Azerbaijan. Besides, they modernized an air defense base in Kurdamir. On this background, Russia is selling defensive weapons to Iran and strengthening its positions in Armenia. The contract between Russia and Azerbaijan for renting the Gabala Radar System expires in 2012. Now it is not working to its full capacity," Karine Gervorgyan
According to the analyst, Iran's position on the issue is the same as it is on the issue of stationing two US radar systems, one of which will be targeted for Iran. "Tehran has nothing against it," said Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Afshar Suleimani earlier. "Such reaction is possibly caused by change of Iran's defensive status," supposes the expert. At the same time, Karine Gervorgyan ruled out a possibility of a connection between the Russian-US dialog on joint use of the Gabala radar station and the process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Nevertheless, according to her, a "plot" between Moscow and Washington about Karabakh is generally plausible.