TBILISI, Georgia — A mountain pass between Georgia and Russia, closed since July 2006, will reopen next week, Georgia said Friday, in rare sign of cooperation since the former Soviet neighbors fought a brief war in 2008.
The Verkhny Lars border crossing through the towering Caucasus mountains is effectively the only land crossing between Russia and Georgia, with the others running through the Russian-backed rebel regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"According to the agreement reached … movement through checkpoint Kazbegi [Georgia] — Verkhny Lars [Russia] will resume from March 1, 2010," the Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
There was no immediate confirmation from Russia.
The statement stressed that visas would not be issued at the border.
Analysts say the move is more economic than political, benefiting mainly traders from Russia's landlocked economic ally Armenia.
Georgia will continue to issue visas to Russian citizens only at the airport, while Georgians have to apply in advance to visit Russia through the Russian interests section of the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi.
Russia closed the border crossing in 2006 as ties between Moscow and the pro-Western government of President Mikheil Saakashvili soured.
War broke out in August 2008 when U.S. ally Georgia launched an assault on South Ossetia after days of fatal skirmishes with rebels and years of escalating tensions with the Kremlin, drawing a crushing Russian counterstrike.
Russia cut air links with Georgia over the war, and Georgia severed diplomatic ties when Moscow recognized the rebel territories as independent states in late August 2008.
There were several charter flights between Tbilisi and Moscow over the January holiday period, but full air links have yet to resume.
Meanwhile, a U.S. guided-missile frigate docked in Georgia on Thursday for joint training exercises next week in the Black Sea. The USS John L. Hall docked in the port of Poti, some 50 kilometers from the de facto border with Abkhazia and 130 kilometers from Ochamchire, the Abkhaz town from which Russian coast guard ships patrol the territory's subtropical coastline.
Commander Derek Lavan said the purpose of the visit was to "reaffirm relations between the United States and Georgia" and to train the Georgian coast guard in firefighting, basic law enforcement, the boarding of ships and basic security.
An official at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, who declined to be identified, said it was a "regular port call" designed "to enhance Black Sea security." The ship moved to the town of Batumi on Friday, and exercises next week will last until March 4.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.