digi-democracy
10-13-2005, 11:50 AM
Azernews.net
Iran not concerned over Caspian radar stations
Iran is not concerned over the presence of two up-to-date radar stations installed with the support of the United States in neighboring Azerbaijan, said member of the taskforce developing the draft convention on the Caspian legal status.
Mohsun Baharvandi told a news conference in Baku following a meeting of the taskforce of the Caspian littoral states on Friday that the countries have a common position on the issue. The radar stations will track down vessels carrying weapons of mass destruction, drug traffickers and terrorists. USA has spent $30 million so far on providing Azeri coast guard with the modern radar system within the Caspian Guard initiative, which is aimed at strengthening the navy of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The U.S. plans to allocate a total of $135 million to Azerbaijan as part of the program.
The radar stations are located on the borders with Iran and Russia. They allow tracking not only Azerbaijan's territories, but also those outside the country. For instance, the radar station located in the Astara region can easily spot Iran's areas over a distance of 400-450 kilometers, including the Caspian shore, according to the Doctrine journalistic union for military research. The radar station on the Azeri-Iranian border is supplied with the most up-to-date equipment and is capable of prompt response. It is designed to track the entire southern line of the Caspian, the north and northeast part of Iranian territories, while spotting radar information and cellular phone conversations. The radar station on the Russo-Azeri border covers Russian territories Chechnya and Daghestan, as well as the entire Caspian shoreline in the north. The facilities are also designed to avert missile attacks in case of military action. The radar stations are capable of spotting objects as high as 300 km and within the distance of 450 km. This potentially allows tracking Russian and Iranian warplanes and warheads. Deputy foreign minister and the President's special envoy on Caspian issues Khalaf Khalafov told journalists that Azerbaijan's cooperation with any country, including the United States, is not directed against neighboring countries. Asked whether there are any changes in other countries' positions towards the US-Azeri cooperation in fighting smuggling in the Caspian Sea, Khalafov said Azerbaijan is cooperating with foreign states within the frame of international law to step up its security, as well as strengthen economic, trade and political relations with other countries. "Every country reserves the right to step up its security and cooperate," he said.
Iran not concerned over Caspian radar stations
Iran is not concerned over the presence of two up-to-date radar stations installed with the support of the United States in neighboring Azerbaijan, said member of the taskforce developing the draft convention on the Caspian legal status.
Mohsun Baharvandi told a news conference in Baku following a meeting of the taskforce of the Caspian littoral states on Friday that the countries have a common position on the issue. The radar stations will track down vessels carrying weapons of mass destruction, drug traffickers and terrorists. USA has spent $30 million so far on providing Azeri coast guard with the modern radar system within the Caspian Guard initiative, which is aimed at strengthening the navy of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The U.S. plans to allocate a total of $135 million to Azerbaijan as part of the program.
The radar stations are located on the borders with Iran and Russia. They allow tracking not only Azerbaijan's territories, but also those outside the country. For instance, the radar station located in the Astara region can easily spot Iran's areas over a distance of 400-450 kilometers, including the Caspian shore, according to the Doctrine journalistic union for military research. The radar station on the Azeri-Iranian border is supplied with the most up-to-date equipment and is capable of prompt response. It is designed to track the entire southern line of the Caspian, the north and northeast part of Iranian territories, while spotting radar information and cellular phone conversations. The radar station on the Russo-Azeri border covers Russian territories Chechnya and Daghestan, as well as the entire Caspian shoreline in the north. The facilities are also designed to avert missile attacks in case of military action. The radar stations are capable of spotting objects as high as 300 km and within the distance of 450 km. This potentially allows tracking Russian and Iranian warplanes and warheads. Deputy foreign minister and the President's special envoy on Caspian issues Khalaf Khalafov told journalists that Azerbaijan's cooperation with any country, including the United States, is not directed against neighboring countries. Asked whether there are any changes in other countries' positions towards the US-Azeri cooperation in fighting smuggling in the Caspian Sea, Khalafov said Azerbaijan is cooperating with foreign states within the frame of international law to step up its security, as well as strengthen economic, trade and political relations with other countries. "Every country reserves the right to step up its security and cooperate," he said.