Vepkhvadze: Georgia is ready to help Armenian friends

Vice-Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, a member of the Christian Democrats Faction Levan Vepkhvadze welcomed the renewed contacts between Russia and Georgia in connection with Upper Lars checkpoint’s reopening. He pointed that the negotiations were held with Armenian part’s mediation, who initiated the talks between the sides.

“Georgia is ready to help our Armenian friends and open the Upper Lars checkpoint,” said Levan Vepkhvadze on the phone interview with Voice of America. In his opinion, firstly, third country’s freights should pass the UL checkpoint, and above all things, those of Armenia. “I think, at the beginning the passage for civilians should be closed,” he said.

However, Levan Vepkhvadze is at the same time worried about possible provocations. In particular, he voiced concern over invasion by Russian troops.

Population of the region of Kazbegi argues against opening the border with Russia, according to the politician. “People here have a dread of the repeat of what happened in region of Alhagori where the Russian troops entered. Georgian population had to leave their homes then. And now local residents are afraid those people from South Osetia who lived here in the region of Kazbegi would return and provoke some acts of quazi-cleaning up.”