Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAKU806
2007-06-27 07:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
AZERBAIJANI PUBLIC FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF
how-toVZCZCXRO6786 RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHKB #0806 1780734 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 270734Z JUN 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3351 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2219 RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0175 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0052 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0168 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0621 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0596 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS BAKU 000806
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MNUC OPRC PARM SENV RU AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI PUBLIC FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF
GABALA RADAR STATION
Ref: Baku 730
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
UNCLAS BAKU 000806
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MNUC OPRC PARM SENV RU AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI PUBLIC FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF
GABALA RADAR STATION
Ref: Baku 730
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (U) Russian President Putin's proposal on the joint usage of the
Gabala radar station has triggered extensive press reports on the
long-dormant issue of the station's negative impact on the
environment and health. Minister of Health Oktay Shiraliyev has
been quoted as saying that the station has "no negative impact
whatsoever," but Minister of Ecology Huseyn Bagirov remarked that
"long-term observation and research is required." The official
newspapers have not picked up the story, but the semi-official Yeni
Azerbaijan daily aired some of these concerns and editorialized that
U.S. involvement and an upgrade of the old Soviet facility with new
environment-friendly western technologies would be a positive
development. Independent ANS TV station carried the views of
scientific experts who argued that the negative impact could not
even be fully assessed due to the fact that there is little
information about the station and no public access. Other experts
asserted that previous studies conducted by a State Commission 10-15
years ago had revealed that the station has a negative impact on
public health, including on people living as far away as Baku. The
pro-opposition newspapers have seized on the story as an opportunity
to criticize the GOAJ for leasing the station to Russia based solely
on its political interests while largely ignoring the health
concerns of the Azerbaijani population (ref).
2. (SBU) Comment: At this point, the Embassy is unable to
independently verify rumors of the Gabala radar's negative health
and environmental effects. However, we note that, due to the
persistence and volume with which local officials have raised the
radar's alleged negative health and environmental effects, the Peace
Corps as a policy has not placed Volunteers in Gabala region. As we
consider President Putin's proposal from both a technical and
political perspective, we must not forget that any agreement to
share the use of this radar facility should also carefully consider
its environment and health impact on Azerbaijan. Failure to do so
would invite public criticism, while special attention to these
issues could earn us significant public goodwill.
LU
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MNUC OPRC PARM SENV RU AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI PUBLIC FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF
GABALA RADAR STATION
Ref: Baku 730
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (U) Russian President Putin's proposal on the joint usage of the
Gabala radar station has triggered extensive press reports on the
long-dormant issue of the station's negative impact on the
environment and health. Minister of Health Oktay Shiraliyev has
been quoted as saying that the station has "no negative impact
whatsoever," but Minister of Ecology Huseyn Bagirov remarked that
"long-term observation and research is required." The official
newspapers have not picked up the story, but the semi-official Yeni
Azerbaijan daily aired some of these concerns and editorialized that
U.S. involvement and an upgrade of the old Soviet facility with new
environment-friendly western technologies would be a positive
development. Independent ANS TV station carried the views of
scientific experts who argued that the negative impact could not
even be fully assessed due to the fact that there is little
information about the station and no public access. Other experts
asserted that previous studies conducted by a State Commission 10-15
years ago had revealed that the station has a negative impact on
public health, including on people living as far away as Baku. The
pro-opposition newspapers have seized on the story as an opportunity
to criticize the GOAJ for leasing the station to Russia based solely
on its political interests while largely ignoring the health
concerns of the Azerbaijani population (ref).
2. (SBU) Comment: At this point, the Embassy is unable to
independently verify rumors of the Gabala radar's negative health
and environmental effects. However, we note that, due to the
persistence and volume with which local officials have raised the
radar's alleged negative health and environmental effects, the Peace
Corps as a policy has not placed Volunteers in Gabala region. As we
consider President Putin's proposal from both a technical and
political perspective, we must not forget that any agreement to
share the use of this radar facility should also carefully consider
its environment and health impact on Azerbaijan. Failure to do so
would invite public criticism, while special attention to these
issues could earn us significant public goodwill.
LU