Armenia to Ask Georgia to Reopen Border with Russia

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will ask Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili during Saakashvili's June 24-26 state visit to Armenia to expedite the reopening of Georgia's border with Russia, an Armenian foreign ministry official has stated.

"Talks are in progress about the possibility of ensuring cargo traffic from Russia to Armenia and back through the Upper Lars checkpoint," Arminfo news agency quoted Aram Grigorian, head of the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs Department at the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as saying.

The checkpoint, essentially the only option for road communications between Armenia and its key ally Russia, was closed by Moscow, allegedly for repairs, three years ago.

Moscow has conveyed its interest to Tbilisi about reopening the border, a measure that Georgian diplomats say they will consider.