Political Map of Azerbaijan

There are no known nuclear reactors, research facilities, or uranium mines on the territory of Azerbaijan.  Azerbaijan does possess a low-level radioactive waste storage facility, Izotop Industrial Complex, and several former Soviet military sites allegedly contaminated with radioactive substances during the Soviet era.  See the Azerbaijan:  Radioactive Waste section of the NIS Nuclear and Missile Database for more information.

The Russian Gabala Radar Station, also known as Lyaki, continues to operate as an early warning system to detect missiles launched towards the former USSR from the south.  The site does not officially have the status of a Russian military facility, but continues to be operated by Russian military personnel.[1,2]

At the September 1997 International Conference on the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone held in Tashkent, Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs Hasan Hasanov called for the creation of a zone "free of nuclear materials of any type" in the Southern Caucasus.  The Azerbaijani government voiced fears about the safety of Armenia's Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant and alleged that material from Metsamor and know-how from plant personnel could be used by Armenia to develop a nuclear weapons program.[3]  Hasanov said that Azerbaijan does not rule out the possibility that Armenia already has nuclear weapons, since arms supplied to Armenia by Russia allegedly include missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.[4]  

On 28 September 1999, the United States and Azerbaijan signed a bilateral agreement on counterproliferation  of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and related materials.  The United States has provided assistance, in the form of patrol boats and funding, to Azerbaijan to help bolster its export control system.  For more information on Azerbaijan's export control system, see the Azerbaijan:  Export Control section of the NIS Nuclear and Missile Database.  

Azerbaijan is a signatory to the Minsk Accord, the NPT, the CTBT, and is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency.  For more information, see the International Organization and Treaty section of the NIS Nuclear and Missile Database.

Sources:
[1] Gafar Bagirov, "Are There Russian Military Bases in Azerbaijan?  The Admission of an Evident Fact Could Bring Considerable Benefit to Azerbaijan," Trans-Caspian Project Website, http://www.transcaspian.ru/cgi-bin/web.exe/eng/6200.html, 28 September 2000.
[2] Tomas Valasek, "Look Who's Sharing," Center for Defense Information Weekly Defense Monitor, Vol. 3, Issue No. 3, 4 February 1999, Center for Defense Information Website, http://www.cdi.org/weekly/1999/issue05.html.
[3] Hasan Hasanov, Presentation at the International Conference on Central Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone, 15-16 September 1997.
[4] Interfax, 17 September 1997; in "Azeri President on Concerns Over Armenian Nuclear Potential," FBIS Document SOV-97-260.{Entered 3/7/01 KB}

Please see the links below for additional information.

Map of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan:  Radioactive Waste
Azerbaijan:  Export Control System
Azerbaijan:  Export Control Developments
International Organization and Treaty Tables

Comments or questions? Contact Kenley Butler at MIIS CNS: Kenley.Butler@miis.edu