ARMENIA OPENS NEW CHECKPOINT ON GEORGIAN BORDER

Armenian Public TV
Dec 27 2008
Armenia

[Presenter over video of the border checkpoint] A border checkpoint
has been opened on Armenia’s northern border, which is surrounded by
Azerbaijani-populated villages of Georgia like a peninsula. The locals
cut the Armenian forest especially in this area where they crossed
the border unimpeded. Officials of the National Security Service say
that they have managed to fully eliminate deforestation as a result
of last year’s work alone. The deputy head of the [National] Security
Service and guests, who arrived from Georgia, took part in the opening
of the Lalvar [town in Armenia’s Tavush Region on the Georgian border]
border checkpoint.

[Passage omitted: Lt-Gen Vrezh Arzumanyan, deputy head of Armenia’s
National Security Service, congratulates staff at the opening]

[Col Armen Abrahamyan, captioned as commander of the Border Troops of
Armenia’s Ministry of National Security, speaking to a journalist]
The peculiarity of this border checkpoint is that there are almost
no roads from this area to Lori Region. We can cross these mountains
in summer, but as you see, under the current conditions [in winter]
we have come here from Georgian territory. The task of this border
checkpoint is to control the whole territory; deforestation takes
place mainly on the territory of this border checkpoint.