Georgia, Tbilisi, Nov. 2 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
The Georgian Foreign Ministry refutes reports about the launching of negotiations with Russia on the opening Verkhniy Lars/Zemo Larsi checkpoint on the northern Georgian-Russian border.
"Today Russian media has reported that as though Georgia launches discussions with Russia on this issue," Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said at the traditional Monday briefing on Nov. 2.
Kalandadze confirmed that Georgia has previously expressed its willingness to negotiate with Russia to open the Larsi checkpoint and notified Moscow about it through the Swiss Embassy, which acts as a mediator between Georgia and Russia after the rupture of the Georgia-Russia bilateral diplomatic relations in September 2008.
"We have expressed willingness to negotiate, given the interests of neighboring Armenia, but Moscow did not respond it," the deputy minister said noting that currently Georgia is holding relevant talks with Armenia.
Armenia demanded the opening Verkhniy Lars/Zemo Larsi checkpoint, which will provide a direct road communication line with Russia via Georgia, long ago.
At present, no checkpoint operates between Georgia and Russia. Russia opened a checkpoint only to the Georgian separatist republics - Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
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