OPENING BORDER WITH RUSSIA… FOR ARMENIA’S SAKE
WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 18, 2009 Wednesday
Russia
THE GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES WILL OPEN CHECKPOINT VERKHNY LARS ON THE
BORDER WITH RUSSIA; Russia and Georgia open the border.
Armenia aspired to it for a long time because nearly 30% of all
shipments to this country had come via Verkhny Lars once. Its shut
down made life hard for Armenia. At first, official Tbilisi used to
say that the opening of the checkpoint depended on Moscow implying
that it should reopen the Russian market for Georgian produce. No
such demands are made any more but Tbilisi warned that the checkpoint
would be closed again the moment Russia announced that terrorists
were crossing the border from Georgia.
The problem of the checkpoint (it is called Kazbegi in Georgia)
was discussed at a special meeting of the Georgian National Security
Council.
President Mikhail Saakashvili outlined three arguments for the
opening. First, it would benefit the population of several regions
of Georgia. Second, it would confirm Georgia’s status of a transit
country. "What counts is that it will enable Georgia to ship its
produce to the third countries via Russia," he said.
The border between Russia and Georgia was closed in 2006 when Russian
officers were seized in Tbilisi and charged with espionage. Russia
closed its market for Georgian produce and locked up Verkhny Lars. It
said a new terminal was being built nearby. In late 2008, Moscow
informed the Georgian Foreign Ministry that a new terminal with the
running capacity of 400 vehicles per day had been built and could be
opened. Tbilisi said it wanted to discuss the matter in Geneva with
Switzerland being the intermediary. Moscow told Georgia to forget it.
Consultations between Russia, Georgia, and Armenia began this autumn.
It seems that certain progress has been made. Kazbegi on the territory
of Georgia and Verkhny Lars in Russia will function in unison, trying
to harmonize the border regime. At first, the border will only be
open for trucks.
Saakashvili warned that Russia might renege on the deal at the last
moment. "They probably never counted on us playing ball. They thought
we would refuse. Well, we did not. It’s up to them now. Let’s see
them agree to open the border now that we do not object."