Georgia says it has agreed with Russia to re-open the only direct highway between them

Georgia and Russia to re-open only border crossing

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia’s Foreign Ministry says it has reached a deal with Russia to open a border crossing that has been closed for three years.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze says the two sides agreed during Swiss-brokered talks Wednesday that the Verkhny Lars transit point will open in March.

It is the only highway crossing between Russia and Georgia that does not go through the Kremlin-backed rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The move would mark a significant thaw in diplomatic relations, which were severed last year in the wake of the August war between Russia and Georgia.