Sardar Dzhalaloglu, head of the opposition Democratic Party, says joint use of the Qabala (Gabala) radar base could lead to greater U.S.-Russian coordination on issues important to Azerbaijan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 7 proposed jointly using the Qabala radar base, which Russia leases, as an alternative to current U.S. plans to site interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar base in the Czech Republic as part of a missile-defense system.
The United States has not indicated that it would allow any decision on the Qabala facility to alter its plans for Poland and the Czech Republic.
(Interfax)
| FURTHER READING | ||
 U.S. analyst Glen Howard discusses what might be behind Putin's radar offer. more
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 A Russian military analyst says Putin's plan could include basing Aegis-equipped U.S. warships in the Caspian. more
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 It looks like Putin understands Russia is too weak to compete with the United States. more
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Moscow And Washington: Toe To Toe
U.S. President George W. Bush (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G8 summit in Germany on June 7 (AFP)
MOUNTING TENSIONS. Relations between Russia and the United States have grown increasingly tense in recent months as issues like missile-defense, Kosovo's status, and Russia's domestic policies have provoked sharp, public differences. On June 5, U.S. President George W. Bush said democratic reforms in Russia have been "derailed"....(more)
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