Moscow and Baku are planning to sign an agreement on the status of the Russian centre Gabala in Azerbaijan

The agreement on the status and conditions of functioning of the Russian information and analytical centre Gabala in Azerbaijan is planned to be signed during the official visit to Moscow by President Geidar Aliyev of Azerbaijan which starts on Thursday. The Gabala centre is the radar of the Russian missile attack warning system which has been functioning since 1985.

As has become known to RIA Novosti from military sources in Moscow, the agreement was drafted in 2000-2001 by groups of experts from the Defence Ministries of the two countries. The document in a compromising way resolves the disputable problems concerning the right of ownership to the movable and immovable property of this facility, its furnishing, the period of the lease, the lease payment, taxes, water and energy supplies.

Apart from that, the agreement provides for informing the Azerbaijan side about the missile-space situation in the area of the radar's operation.

According to the unofficial data, the agreement envisages the recognition of the radar as the property of Azerbaijan with the right of leasing it by Russia in the course of ten years.