Putin views reopening of Russia-Georgia border as positive sign | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire: “Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the reopening of the only land border crossing between Russia and Georgia was a sign of improving ties between the two countries.
‘This is a new facility, it creates good new opportunities for direct contacts between people… This is the first stage, an act symbolizing the development of Russian-Georgian ties,’ Putin said at a meeting with Georgian opposition leader Nino Burdzhanadze.
The former speaker of the Georgian parliament, once an ally of President Mikheil Saakashvili, came to Moscow for talks with Russian political leaders, saying that such dialogue was crucial for Georgia.”