Azerbaijani Official Says U.S., Russia To Decide On Radar

Russia has offered the United States the joint use of Azerbaijan's Qabala radar station (ITAR-TASS) July 10, 2007 -- Azerbaijan's deputy foreign minister has said it is up to Russia and the United States to decide whether a radar base in Azerbaijan could be used in the U.S. missile-defense shield.

Russia opposes U.S. plans to base parts of the system in Poland and the Czech Republic, and has offered alternatives, including the Qabala site that Moscow currently leases in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov, speaking after talks on security cooperation in Washington, said the matter was now "between the United States and Russia."

"If the station and its proposal [on the] use of this station shall be considered acceptable, then Azerbaijan probably would be interested in participation on consultations," he told journalists.

The United States has said the Qabala site could not be a replacement for planned installations in Poland and the Czech Republic.

(AP, AFP)