GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: NO MILITARY CARGOES WILL BE TRANSPORTED VIA UPPER LARS CROSSING

ArmInfo
2010-03-11 15:55:00

ArmInfo. No single bullet will pass via Upper Lars crossing. There is
Law On Occupation in the Georgian legislation that bans any military
cooperation with Russia and no military cargoes will be transported
via Upper Lars, Georgian Ambassador to Armenia Grigol Tabatadze said
in a press conference on Thursday.

He said that reopening of Upper Lars was very serious discussed at
the Georgian Security Council with the Georgian opposition taking an
active part in the discussion. As regards the latest statement by
Georgian oppositionist Georgy Khaindrava saying that reopening of
Upper Lars threatens the national security Georgia. Tabatadze said
that opposition parties always blame government. The Ambassador does
not believe that the Georgian party’s decision was wrong. Georgia
will not have any financial or economic benefit from reopening of the
crossing since the Georgian legislation does not tax transit. At the
same time, he said, Georgia will also get an opportunity to transport
its cargoes via the territory of Russia.

In addition, Ambassador Tabatadze said that reopening of Upper Lars is
important for Armenia’s economy. "The Armenian party was the initiator
of these negotiations and the first discussion on reopening of the
crossing was held in Yerevan," he said. The Ambassador said that
Upper Lars is open for everyone and Armenian cargoes have already
been transported via the crossing. In necessary, it is open also for
Azerbaijan and Turkish cargoes.

Kazbegi – Upper Lars crossing on the Russian-Georgian border had
been closed for 3 years on the initiative of Russia for repair and
modernization. The crossing was reopened on March 1 2010.