Seven radar stations will be sited along Azerbaijan’s Caspian Sea coast, the U.S. Department of State said in its country report on terrorism for 2011.
“The Azerbaijan government assumed responsibility for the sustainment of seven radar stations along the Caspian coast used by the Navy, Coast Guard, and State Border Service to conduct maritime surveillance and detect smuggling threats,” the report says.
The announcement came amid the lack of progress in Russia’s talks with Azerbaijan over extending the lease of the missile defense radar station in the Azerbaijani town of Gabala.
Russia has been in talks with Azerbaijan to extend the lease of the Soviet-era radar, which it has operated under a 2002 agreement due to expire on December 24 this year.
