Russia urges Georgia to show "understanding" on checkpoint closure
RIA Novosti
11 Jul 06
Moscow, 11 July: Russia expects Georgia to show understanding over the
temporary closure of the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint and not to obstruct
the crossing of the Russian-Georgian border in other areas, Russian
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin has told RIA-Novosti.
"We hope the Georgian side will show understanding on this purely
temporary measure and not obstruct the use of border-crossing
facilities on the Russian-Georgian border in other areas," he said.
In the diplomat’s words, the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint has indeed been
closed for a technical upgrade since 8 July.
"The need for this arises in particular because this checkpoint was
repeatedly used by multinational crime groups for smuggling drugs,
gunmen and weapons into Russia for terrorist and other purposes. Some
of these cases happened very recently," the Russian Foreign Ministry
spokesman said.
He noted that the Russian side realized all the difficulties this
decision caused for the public and for goods producers, including those
from Armenia, and was looking for ways to ease these difficulties.