TBILISI: ARMENIA AND GEORGIA NEGOTIATE OVER UPPER LARS CHECKPOINT

Tert
Nov 2 2009
Armenia

Tbilisi accuses Moscow for circulating disinformation on opening
Upper Lars checkpoint between Georgia and Russia, reports Georgian
news agency GHN.

"Russia circulated information that allegedly Georgia and Russia are
negotiating over the Lars checkpoint. That is disinformation. No
negotiations are being held with Russia," Deputy Georgian Foreign
Minister Nino Kalandadze told journalists today.

According to Kalandadze, "the Georgian side may make concessions,"
but only after Russia meets the terms which Tbilisi sets to Moscow
concerning the checkpoint.

At the same time, Kalandadze stated that at the present moment
negotiations over the issue are held not with Russia but with Armenia.

"We made arrangements with Armenia that we would begin technical
negotiations on Lars, and we have begun, though Russia is creating
certain problems," Kalandadze stated.

Communication through Upper Lars had come to a halt in the summer of
2006. At that time, Moscow had officially explained closing of the
checkpoint by the fact that it didn’t correspond to international
requirements and needed reconstruction.