SUKHUMI, Abkhazia. Jan 21 (Interfax) - Abkhazia has made its border with Georgia more difficult to cross this year, the Abkhaz president said on Friday.
"All those who cross the border are put in a computer database. The free crossing of the border with Georgia will come to an end," Alexander Ankvab told a news conference in Sukhumi, Abkhazia's capital.
"It has been decided to open a minimum of three more checkpoints so that people who live in the lower zone of the Gali district [of Abkhazia] don't have to go all the way to the Ingur checkpoint to cross the border," he said, expressing hope that the checkpoints would open in March.
These measures "mean the possibility of more effective action against those who illegally cross the national border, even though they may have no ill intentions in doing so," Ankvab said. "We hope that, by the end of the year, the situation on the border with Georgia will improve significantly."
Georgians can now enter Abkhazia on their passports only, Ankvab said. "I know that this has evoked discontent in Georgia and there have been publications to the effect that we have established a right regime there, but it is a national border, and foreigners need travel with passports to cross it."