Armenia Urges Russia to Reopen its Border with Georgia

?Russia has the right to take steps towards combating terrorism; however the damage caused to Georgia and Armenia by Russia?s decision to close the border is huge,? the Russian news agency Interfax quoted Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Marganyan as saying.

Russia’s decision to close its border with Georgia at the Larsi checkpoint has had a negative effect on the economy of both Georgia and Armenia. Russia officially closed the border with Georgia after the Beslan tragedy in North Ossetia and it has remained closed since then.

Eyewitnesses say buses and cars not only from Georgia, but from Armenia and Azerbaijan as well, are stuck at the border.

According to the Georgian Customs Department, the state budget has already lost over 4 million Lari as a result of the closing of the Larsi checkpoint. Russia has also closed its border with Azerbaijan.