ARMENIA WANTS BORDER CHECKPOINT TO REOPEN

Interfax
Nov 5 2009
Russia

Yerevan wants to reopen the Verkhny Lars checkpoint on the
Russia-Georgia border as soon as possible, Armenian Foreign Ministry
press secretary Tigran Balayan told the media in Yerevan on Thursday.

"The Armenian position is clear. It has been declared several times.

We welcome the possible Russian-Georgian agreement to reopen Verkhny
Lars," he said.

The checkpoint closed down in 2006. Russia said it needed repairs.

Verkhny Lars is a transit point for Armenia.

Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said that negotiations
were underway.

"Georgia is holding negotiations with Armenia, which, in turn,
is negotiating with Russia. A meeting has been held, mostly about
technical aspects," the Georgian media cited Vashadze.