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TBILISI: Russia Opens Closed Border For Ten Days

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  • TBILISI: Russia Opens Closed Border For Ten Days

    RUSSIA OPENS CLOSED BORDER FOR TEN DAYS

    The Messenger, Georgia
    Aug. 24, 2006

    Almost two months have passed, according to Akhali Taoba, since
    Russia closed a Georgian-Russian border crossing at Larsi Checkpoint,
    allegedly due to repair work there. Russia made the decision a long
    time ago but informed Georgia only two hours before the closure. The
    Georgian side has negotiated with the Russian side several times, but
    the Russians said they need more time to carry out necessary repairs.

    The paper reports this will last for a long time, as Tbilisi doubts
    that Russia will open the border in the near future. As a result the
    Roki tunnel is expected to stay busy as it remains as the only route
    to Russia. Russia's decision has damaged Georgians as well as Russians
    themselves, but most of all Armenians, who received big profits from
    the now-closed Larsi route.

    Now, to reach Russia, Armenian citizens have to pass through Georgian
    territory and have their documents scrutinized at the Georgian
    checkpoint.

    In order to facilitate the procedure the Russian side decided to
    open the Larsi checkpoint for a week to let Armenian citizens pass,
    and then close it again. The suggested they would keep reopening
    the border for some time to let Armenian citizens in and out. They
    suggested that during this period Georgians will also have opportunity
    to move through the checkpoint.

    When Georgians learnt the reason for Russia's proposal to reopen
    the border and the timeframe, they turned it down and said that they
    would rather Russia finish repair works and then permanently reopen
    the border.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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