ArmenPress
Oct 6 2004
RUSSIA REOPENS BORDER WITH GEORGIA FOR ARMENIAN VEHICLES
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Russia reopened on October 4 its
border with Georgia at Upper Lari border check point for
Armenia-bound and vice versa vehicles. The move came after a
telephone conversation between Russian and Armenian presidents the
previous day. Armenian transport and economy ministry said
negotiations are now underway with Georgian officials for quick and
uninterrupted traffic towards Armenia.
The Russian authorities closed the border in early September
immediately after the Beslan school bloodbath on grounds that
Georgian and Azerbaijani territory is used by Chechen militants for
planning and carrying out terrorist attacks against civilian targets
across Russia.
Russia remains Armenia’s key trading partner and a large part of
their commercial exchange is carried out through the Russian-Georgian
border crossings. The protracted Russian embargo has had a heavy
affect on Armenian business and ordinary people traveling to Russia
by bus.